A Montgomery County Precinct 3 constable deputy is out of a job and in a jail cell after county officials say he dipped into sensitive criminal-record databases for personal reasons, throwing a harsh spotlight on how local law enforcement handles private data.
According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, in a post cited by FOX 26 Houston, the deputy, identified as Louis Norman, was arrested Friday on a charge of “Misuse of Official Information” and is being held in the Montgomery County Jail. Officials say the investigation began after the Precinct 3 Constable’s Office received a tip and that Norman allegedly used information from the National Crime Information Center and the Texas Crime Information Center “for non-law enforcement purposes and personal use.”
What the Charge Means
Under Texas law, “misuse of official information” makes it a crime for a public servant to disclose or use nonpublic information for a nongovernmental purpose, and the offense is usually charged as a felony of the third degree. The statute and its elements are set out in Texas Penal Code §39.06; see the statute for the definition of information that “has not been made public” and the possible penalties, according to Justia.
Local Oversight and Pattern
The arrest lands on top of other recent Montgomery County incidents that have raised questions about how deputies handle arrestees’ personal data. Local reporting shows a separate Precinct 5 deputy was suspended this week after allegations he shared booking images and a driver’s license on social media, as reported by ABC13, prompting renewed focus on department policies and training.
What’s Next
The sheriff’s office has issued only a brief announcement and has not released additional details while investigators continue the probe, FOX 26 Houston reports. County prosecutors are expected to review the investigation and decide whether to pursue formal charges beyond the initial arrest.
