Former Grapeland City Superintendent Arrested on Felony Charge

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

GRAPELAND – The former City Superintendent of Grapeland, James Deshon Wiley, was arrested and charged with four misdemeanors and one felony offense after a routine traffic stop on Wednesday, March 1.

Wiley, 36, with a Grapeland address, was pulled over at approximately 8 p.m. on North Market Street by Grapeland Police Lt. Ronnie Howell while Howell was on a routine patrol, according to a Grapeland PD offense report.

The report indicated Howell was out of his vehicle at the Grapeland Grocery and heard excessively loud music “… coming toward my location on North Market Street from the south. Moments later, I (Howell) observed a blue Chevrolet four door sedan traveling north on the listed roadway and discovered it to be the source of the music.”

Howell’s report stated he knew the vehicle belonged to Wiley and had recently learned – as part of his day-to-day patrol – the vehicle’s registration was expired and did not match the license plate displayed on the car.

“At this time, having prior knowledge that the vehicle registration was expired and observing it being operated on the public roadway, I initiated a routine traffic stop,” the report indicated.

Once the traffic stop was made, the report indicated Wiley “… was unable to provide proof of financial responsibility (insurance) for the vehicle he was operating. Furthermore, Wiley told me that he had no insurance. Subsequently, Wiley was arrested and charged with expired vehicle registration and failing to maintain financial responsibility.”

Prior to having the vehicle towed, the report stated Howell began to conduct an inventory of the vehicle operated by Wiley.

Howell stated in his report he discovered a registration certificate partially concealed under the driver’s side front seat “… and discovered that it bore a different license plate number than the suspect’s vehicle. I checked the license plate number on the certificate and discovered that it returned to a vehicle registered to (someone else). At this time, James Wiley was charged with (a count of) fictitious or altered registration certificate and tampering with physical evidence. “

The report also indicated Howell’s inventory discovered the remnants of a marijuana cigarette, which field tested positive for the drug.

Wiley was booked into custody on charges of: possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor; a fictitious license plate, a class C misdemeanor; tampering with or fabricating evidence , a third degree felony; no liability insurance, a class C misdemeanor; and an expired registration sticker, a class C misdemeanor.

According to Section 12.34 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 10 years or less than two years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

A class B misdemeanor may be punishable by “… a fine not to exceed $2,000; confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days; or both such fine and confinement,” according to Section 12.22 of the penal code.

Wiley posted bond of $3,000 and was released, pending further judicial action. He was also assessed $1,281.50 in fines.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

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