Fate Settlement Finally Reveals Who Was in the Crosshairs of the Lombard Lawsuit
Fate, TX — The courtroom showdown over former Fate Department of Public Safety Director Lyle Lombard is over before it ever really began, and the settlement agreement just released by the City of Fate gives the public something it did not have before: the full list of people who were on the other side of the dispute.
And there were more names than the original lawsuit suggested.
The final Compromise Settlement and Indemnity Agreement and Release, names the City of Fate and six individuals as defendants: City Manager Michael Kovacs, former Councilwoman Codi Chinn, former Councilman Mark Harper, former Councilman Scott Kelly, Steven Downs and Leigh Corson. The agreement states that the dispute arose from events and actions occurring during Lombard’s employment with the city.
For residents who have followed the Lombard controversy for months, that list is significant. These were not merely names floating around the political edges of the controversy. They were the people specifically identified in the final settlement as defendants, meaning their conduct could have been examined in discovery and, had the case proceeded to trial, placed before a jury.
In other words, this is the cast that could have found itself answering questions under oath.
The original complaint prepared for Lombard identified the City of Fate and Kovacs as defendants and alleged violations of his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights, along with claims arising under federal civil rights law. The complaint alleged Lombard was terminated after his wife engaged in criticism of Fate government on social media.
A subsequent demand letter from Lombard’s attorney put the stakes at $440,000 and warned that litigation would involve preservation of emails, electronic files, computer data and other evidence concerning Lombard’s employment and termination.
That litigation will now never get its day in court.
Under the settlement, Lombard agreed to release the defendants and related persons from claims arising from the dispute, including employment-related claims, tort claims, contract claims and other claims that were or could have been asserted based on events occurring before the agreement was executed. The agreement further states that Lombard will not file another claim, complaint, charge, lawsuit or other proceeding based on the matters covered by the settlement.
The price of bringing the dispute to an end is substantial. The agreement provides Lombard with $250,000, according to the settlement document, in exchange for the releases and other promises contained in the agreement. The agreement also provides other consideration, including employment-related benefits. To put this figure in context, this is only slightly more than the severance package afforded to Michael Kovacs … should he ever be terminated.
There is, however, no finding of wrongdoing.
The settlement expressly says it is a compromise of disputed claims and is not an admission of fault, wrongdoing or liability by any party. The defendants specifically deny Lombard’s allegations and maintain that his termination was the result of his own actions.
The settlement brings the Lombard matter to a permanent close, but it also leaves a public record of who was named as defendants and who could have been called to answer questions had the case gone to trial. There will be no jury verdict, no sworn testimony from those witnesses in open court, and no judicial determination of whose version of events was correct. The $250,000 settlement ends the dispute, and under its terms, ends any further litigation against the defendants arising from the claims covered by the agreement.
La Marque, TX – Keith Bell, 53, the mayor of La Marque, was arrested Friday in Angleton on a warrant charging him with indecent exposure, a Class B misdemeanor. He was released Saturday after posting a $75,000 bond, with a judge ordering him to have no contact with the woman who reported the incident, stay away from her residence and stay away from the school she attends.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Bell was allegedly seen masturbating in the lobby of an office building in Angleton on Friday morning. A woman, whose identity is being withheld, reportedly witnessed the incident and contacted authorities, prompting Brazoria County Sheriff’s deputies to respond. The Chronicle reported that Bell was taken into custody and booked into the county detention center.
Those are allegations, not a conviction. Bell has not been found guilty of the charge, and the publicly available reporting does not identify an attorney representing him or provide a statement from Bell disputing the accusation.
The City of La Marque confirmed the arrest Friday, in a statement where they stated, “To the residents of La Marque, we recognize that this is a shocking and disheartening development during a period that has already brought significant uncertainty and challenges to our community. We understand and share your concerns.” City officials also emphasized that the alleged conduct occurred outside Bell’s official duties as mayor and said the city would follow its charter and applicable law while gathering verified information.
Bell’s arrest does not automatically remove him from office. The city said Saturday that Bell remains mayor unless he resigns or is removed through the procedures established by the city charter and Texas law. City leadership said it had not communicated with Bell following his release, and Bell had not contacted city staff at the time of reporting.
This isn’t Bell’s first trip with controversy.
Bell has been involved in La Marque government for years. He served on the council for 17 years before becoming mayor, and he was sworn into the mayor’s office in January 2021. He was reelected in May 2024, defeating Joel Camacho with 63.57 percent of the vote, according to official Galveston County election results.
Bell also survived a 2022 recall election. More recently, he faced another recall effort in 2025, which Bell disputed as based on false allegations. That political history doesn’t establish anything about the current criminal case, but it does mean La Marque’s mayor has never exactly been a stranger to controversy.
Under Texas Penal Code §21.08, indecent exposure involves exposing the anus or genitals with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire while being reckless about whether another person is present who will be offended or alarmed. A first offense is generally a Class B misdemeanor.
Fate, TX – The race to fill the vacant Fate City Council Place 1 seat vacated by the recall of Codi Chinn, will consist of four candidates. Randy Long, Stephanie Delaine Adams, Joshua Martin and Donovan Heinrich.
Randy Long is a serves as the Rockwall County director for True Texas Project, a conservative grassroots organization.
Stephanie Delaine Adams served 12 years on the Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees, including two years as board president from 2017 to 2019. She is now a Realtor.
Joshua Martin has lived in Fate for approximately six years and is a recruiting manager with QXO. He previously served as president of the Old Shepard Place neighborhood association in Plano.
Donovan Heinrich previously ran for Fate City Council, Place 5, in 2021, receiving 288 votes, or 30.48%, against eventual winner Jim DeLand.
More to follow on each candidate in the upcoming days.
Council
Refugio’s Government Meltdown: Mayor, Secretary and Three Council Officials Arrested in Two Days
Refugio, TX — It is one thing when a Texas mayor gets arrested. It is quite another when the mayor, city secretary and three current or former council members are all swept into the same criminal investigation within roughly 48 hours. That is what happened this week in Refugio, a small South Texas town where local government has suddenly become the subject of a Texas Rangers investigation and multiple felony charges.
Mayor Wanda Dukes and City Secretary Callie Shreckengost were arrested Wednesday on first-degree felony charges involving the alleged misapplication of fiduciary property valued at $300,000 or more, according to reporting by Crossroads Today and Texas Municipal Watch. The allegations involve the town’s Economic Development Corporation funds.
Then came Thursday.
Mayor Pro Tem Ixtlazihuatl “Lala” Vasquez, along with former council members Michael Rocha and Frank Hosey, surrendered at the Refugio County Jail and were arrested on third-degree felony charges alleging abuse of official capacity involving government property valued at more than $30,000 but less than $150,000.
The Texas Rangers reportedly told Crossroads Today that Thursday’s arrests stem from the same grand jury indictment that produced the charges against Dukes and Shreckengost. Texas Municipal Watch reported that it had not independently reviewed the indictment and was relying on Crossroads Today’s account of the Rangers’ statement.
Under Texas Penal Code Section 39.02, abuse of official capacity involves a public servant intentionally or knowingly misusing government property, services, personnel or other resources under that official’s control for an improper benefit or to harm or defraud another person. At the dollar range alleged in the Thursday arrests, the offense is classified as a third-degree felony.
The identities of the officials involved are not in question. Refugio County records list Dukes as mayor, Vasquez as Alderman Place 1, Rocha as Alderman Place 3, and Hosey as Alderman Place 4. Town financial records also identify Shreckengost as city secretary.
But there is still a great deal the public does not know.
Texas Municipal Watch reported that the specific conduct allegedly underlying the charges against Vasquez, Rocha and Hosey had not yet been independently confirmed, nor had the outlet confirmed their release conditions or upcoming court appearances. The underlying indictment had also not been obtained at the time of its Thursday report.
The town council has apparently recognized that it has a problem. Council members Robert Jaso and Dana Alsop issued an identical statement Wednesday saying the town was aware of criminal accusations against officials, could not comment on an ongoing investigation, and intended to take steps to protect municipal resources. They also said a special meeting would be held as soon as possible to consider whatever action might be necessary.
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