Uhland Mayor Lacee Duke, 38, was arrested and booked into the Caldwell County Jail this week on a charge of misapplication of fiduciary property tied to an alleged six-figure loss, putting the small central Texas town’s leadership under an unforgiving spotlight.
According to KXAN, Duke was taken into custody on Dec. 3 and booked on a charge of “misapplication of fiduciary property.” Jail records cited in the report list the alleged loss as “greater than $150,000 and less than $300,000,” which pushes the allegation into a higher felony range under state law. The outlet reports that state investigators are now digging into the case.
State Investigators Step In
The arrest was handled by Texas Rangers with the Department of Public Safety, a unit that does far more than highway patrol. According to the Texas DPS, the Rangers oversee specialized programs that investigate public corruption and official misconduct, including Public Corruption and Public Integrity units that focus on alleged crimes by elected officials and state employees.
Duke was booked at the Caldwell County Correctional Facility in Lockhart. The county’s official website lists contact information and the jail’s location through the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office.
City’s Size Shows Why The Money Matters
Documents obtained by KXAN through the Texas Public Information Act show Uhland employs 15 salaried workers: eight in the police department, four in city administration, and three in public works. For a government that leans, a six-figure allegation is not just a line item; it is a shock to the whole system. The outlet reviewed payroll records and local government files as part of its reporting.
The 2020 U.S. Census recorded 1,588 residents in Uhland, a number that underscores how significant that alleged dollar amount would be for a town this small.
Mayor’s Term And City Hall’s Silence
Duke was elected mayor in May, with her term scheduled to run through 2027, according to the City of Uhland. The city’s website currently shows a pause in council activity this week, with no upcoming meetings listed on the public calendar.
City Hall’s directory also offers contact information for residents looking for answers as the investigation unfolds, though officials have not publicly detailed the alleged misapplication or provided a timeline for when more information might emerge.
What The Felony Charge Could Mean
Under state law, the consequences depend heavily on the value at issue. As explained by FindLaw, an alleged loss between $150,000 and $300,000 in a misapplication of fiduciary property case is treated as a second-degree felony in Texas. That range carries a potential punishment of two to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000, with penalties escalating further at higher dollar amounts.
What Comes Next For Uhland
Investigators have not released a detailed breakdown of the funds at the center of the allegation, and it could be weeks before prosecutors file formal charges or a grand jury returns an indictment. For now, the case remains active, and local officials say they will update residents as new information becomes available.
In the meantime, council business is effectively on hold, and residents are keeping a close eye on court records in Caldwell County to see how the case against their newly elected mayor unfolds.
