Liberty Hill fire chief, wife arrested

WILLAMSON COUNTY (KXAN) - WILLIAMSON COUNTY (KXAN) - Liberty Hill Fire Chief James Pogue and his wife Mary Leslye Pogue turned themselves into the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office early Wednesday morning on charges of misappropriation of funds, according to Williamson County Sheriff’s officials. The couple bonded out Wednesday evening. Leslye is charged with coercion of a public servant. Though Williamson and Travis county Sheriff's vehicles were at the fire station Wednesday morning, Liberty Hill firefighters have been told not to talk to the media.

Even Williamson County Sheriff's investigators were taken aback by the allegations.

"This is a person put in the put into public trust this tax payer money," said Detective John Foster with Williamson County Sheriff's Office.

The Chief is accused of spending about $650 of fire department money on oil changes and transmission work on his personal car. That is in addition to spending nearly 800 dollars on things like paint and a tool box. "He's been around a long time but nice guys need to be held accountable," said Foster.

Leslye Pogue, the chief's wife and his assistant, is accused of spending hundreds of tax payer dollars on allergy medications, diet pills, diet meals, personal vehicle work and more. "It's real distressing cause we think so much of them, I do hope it's wrong," said Harris.

Though Emergency Services District Board members did not return our calls in January, they said the alleged misuse of money puts people's lives at risk and breaches their agreement, which means the fire department could be taken over by Williamson County Emergency Services District Number 4. Meanwhile the Sheriff's office says Liberty Hill citizens are still in good hands. "Our investigation has nothing to do with personnel and citizen don't need to worry about their safety," said Foster.

For the first time in his 25-year career as fire chief, Pogue called a press conference in early March to “address charges made by some representatives of the Williamson County Emergency Services District #4 that accuse the department of being in breach of contract and placing the lives and property of area citizens in danger.”

Pogue defended himself against accusations made in January that the fire department had breached its contract with its governing Emergency Services District board by failing to explain purchases. The board accused the department of using district money for personal benefit after an independent audit was conducted in November.

Dana Ripley, a board member of ESD No. 4, said at the time of the press conference the board had conducted an audit of the fire department to “get to the bottom of some discrepancies.” She said no takeover of the fire department was planned at that time. However, the board said misuse of money puts people's lives at risk and amounts to a breach of contract, meaning the fire department could be taken over by Williamson County ESD No. 4. The accusations came as a complete surprise to long-time Liberty Hill resident Edena Harris, who said the couple is very kind.

"They are very friendly and outgoing and always ready to help those in need," said Harris.

The audit found book purchases were made at Barnes and Noble that do not appear to be department-related. It also found someone received cash back after using a department credit card at Wal-Mart, and fuel purchases were made with department credit cards for personal vehicles.

The department has 12 paid full-time firefighters, seven paid part-time firefighters and seven volunteers. Its annual budget is nearly $1 million, of which Pogue gets $65,000 each year.