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WEDNESDAY • MARCH 21, 2018

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 40 • No. 32

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Stafford mayor leery of TI property development Scarcella says property tax status could be jeopardized By Theresa D. McClellan FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

An approval to accept an economic development agreement between the City of Stafford and the developers of a 192-acre, $500 million project designed to attract millennials who want to work and play where they live, could change the future of Stafford. On March 20 (between deadline and publication of this edition of the paper) the board of directors of the Stafford Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) were to have held a special meeting at City Hall. They were considering a resolution approving the proposed redevelopment of the old Texas Instrument campus as a project of the SEDC. The property is bounded on the south by the Texas In-

struments Ditch, on the west by Kirkwood Road and US 59, on the north by West Airport Boulevard Leonard and on the Scarcella east by FM 1092/Murphy Road. Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella has made no secret of his opposition to the financial proposal because, he says, the financial agreement could lead to the city losing it’s zero property tax attraction because the city won’t be able to afford subsidizing the developer the first five years and still maintain city services. Stafford is the largest city in Texas that offers zero property tax incentives to homeowners and businesses, making it the

key attraction to living in or bringing a business to Stafford. According to Scarcella, the developers, in addition to wanting the zero property tax incentive, want money up front from Stafford to help pay for infrastructure such as roads and street lighting “We’ve never given anybody a penny before. And we are talking about $13 million, several million up front, and a rebate of sales tax that could go up to as much as 80 percent. They want $8.4 million with interest. I have a problem with that and a lot of taxpayers and business owners and citizens have problems with that,” Scarcella said. “What we are doing is funding them in ways others

SEE STAFFORD, PAGE 9

Fort Bend County Fair

Pattersons named honorees

Construction work continues Monday afternoon at the site of the former Texas Instruments campus in Stafford at the Intersection of Highway 59 and Airport Road. (Photo by Joe Southern)

Accomplice in theft, money-laundering scheme sentenced to 28 years in prison From staff reports

From staff reports

FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

Fort Bend County Commissioner James Patterson and his wife, Mary Jo, have been named as the 2018 Fort Bend County Fair honorees. The Patterson family has been a remarkable supporter and has spent countless hours bidding, buying, cheering, and enjoying the fair. “To us, the Fort Bend County Fair has always been a major part of what Fort Bend County stands for. The pride of the students and the accomplishments that they are able to show, truly help youngsters grow up to be leaders, not only in Fort Bend County but across the country. For us to be chosen as honorees is an amazing honor,” Commissioner Patterson said. Known for their service to the community, auctioneering talents, and champions of education, Patterson and his wife were both raised with core country-life values. “We both grew up in the country, and as a high school principal, I saw the difference that our agricultural and Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs made in kids’ lives. As I became county commissioner, we realized that there was more to the fair than the FFA and ag projects and began to support the art auction and the commercial heifer sale,” he said. The Pattersons have been married for 53 years and have called Sugar Land their home for 47 years. Behind the tall civil servant, whose auction-

James and Mary Jo Patterson have been named the 2018 Fort Bend County Fair honorees. (Submitted photo)

eering talents have benefited many charities and churches has been the strength of Mary Jo Patterson. Together, they have been able to touch many lives with their commitments to the community, charities, and through their extended family. The Patterson family has been instrumental in The Arc of Fort Bend County and countless other organizations. As a family, they have been attending the fair for decades. “In the early years, from 1965 to 1999 we attended the parade, took our children and then our

grandchildren to the carnival and rodeo, occasionally to the fair’s auction,” Mrs. Patterson said. “When James became county commissioner, we continued to attend all those things and then got involved in the four different auctions.” This year, the Fort Bend Auction Buyers Group will be marking their 50th year of commitment. The group is an alliance of individuals who commit financially to support the

SEE HONOREES, PAGE13

Ether Laver Thomas was found guilty of first-degree felony theft of property (over $200,000) and first-degree felony money laundering (over $200,000) and sentenced to 28 years prison. The Humble woman pled guilty to the charges and sought sentencing from the court. The evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that Ether Thomas and Andrea Davidson, an accounting employee of a Sugar Land engineering company, were friends and worked together to forge checks and alter bank records to steal over $8 million from a Sugar Land company between May 2007 and April 2014. Davidson was sentenced to 28 years in prison in February 2017. A sentencing report revealed that the 54-year-old Thomas grew up in a supportive, crime-free, married household free from abuse, illicit substances, or criminal influences – factors that some individuals attribute to predispose people to commit crimes. Despite the opportunities presented to her, the report revealed the defendant began committing crimes starting when she was 18 years old. The first offense was a theft from her employer resulting in five-years’ probation in 1982. Thomas continued

to commit crimes into her 30s and was sentenced to a six-year probation for welfare Ether Laver fraud in Thomas 1997. After she completed her second probation, she began working with Davidson to steal from Davidson’s employer. Matt Cardenas, a financial crimes investigator employed by the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, testified at the sentencing hearing that after a thorough examination of Thomas’s bank records, he found that she had no legitimate source of income and that she was unemployed during the period of the theft. Cardenas noted that Thomas’s share of the theft was $3 million and that Thomas withdrew almost $1.5 million in cash that is unaccounted for. Cardenas noted that Thomas spent nearly $1 million for personal expenses including travel, shopping, and casinos. The defense argued that Thomas spent much of the money on charity, but Cardenas found that charitable contributions were only $5,000 to $10,000 a year to a church Thomas attended. The defense called several friends, family, and co-workers to testify on Thomas’s behalf. Most testified that Thomas was a helping and trustworthy person. Upon cross-examination from the

prosecution, the witnesses stated they were unaware that Thomas had committed the theft and agreed that her crime merited some consequence. The defense argued that Thomas deserved probation because of the charitable works she performed for the community and because she raised good children. The state argued that Thomas lived two lives: one of an upstanding citizen, and a hidden life as a thief. The state emphasized the defendant had been committing theft or fraud for most of her life and what charitable acts she did perform did not excuse her from bearing the consequences of her crimes. Presiding Judge Maggie Perez-Jaramillo of the 400th District Court agreed and sentenced Thomas to the same punishment that Andrea Davidson, Thomas’s partner in crime, received. “Ether Thomas and Andrea Davidson were partners in crime and it is fitting that they are now partners in serving time,” said Abdul Farukhi, the lead prosecutor on the case. Theft and money laundering in these cases are both first-degree felonies punishable by 5-99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000 each. Thomas was eligible to receive probation. Assistant district attorneys Farukhi and Scott Carpenter prosecuted the case. Attorney Cheryl Coleman represented the defendant.

Identity of serial wallet thief stumps police From staff reports FOR THE FORT BEND STAR

Sugar Land police arrested a serial thief who took a woman’s wallet at Panera Bread, 1928 State Highway 6, on March 10. The man entered the restaurant just before 2:55 p.m., took a wallet from an employee’s purse and ran from the store when the employee witnessed the theft. He was chased by another employee and a second man who witnessed the pursuit; cornered at Jamba Juice, 2148 Texas Drive; and detained after a brief

struggle. The thief sustained blows to the head during the fight but refused medical treatment. Police have identified the thief as the same man who helped a woman steal a wallet from an unattended purse at the same Panera Bread on Feb. 4. Detectives believe he and his accomplices are responsible for at least four similar crimes in Sugar Land since Jan. 15 – all in the Sugar Land Town Center area. When arrested, the thief identified himself as Christian Santos, 38, of Puerto Rico; however, police believe the man provided false identification and need the public’s help to establish his true

identity. He has a distinct tattoo on his chest that may assist with identification. Police are also looking for a second man who served as a lookout during the crime. Anyone with information should call the Sugar Land Police Department at 281-275-2540 or Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at 281-342-TIPS (8477).

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This ride’s over Bull rider Sage Steele Kimsey gets bucked off during a ride March 7 at RodeoHouston. On Sunday, he won the Super Shootout during the rodeo’s final night. (Photo by Joe Southern)

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