Eversole bribery trial begins

Commissioner Jerry Eversole

By BOBBY HORN JR.
HARRIS COUNTY– Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole’s federal bribery trial began last week with the selection of jurors.
The U. S. Attorney for Houston, Jose Angel Moreno, in December, unsealed a federal grand jury indictment against Eversole and businessman Michael Surface.
The 31-page indictment lists conspiracy, receiving a bribe, and filing false income tax statements against Eversole. It lists conspiracy and paying a bribe against Surface.
In total, Eversole is charged in four counts.
Eversole and Surface have both plead not guilty.

The charges stem from a corruption investigation that has been ongoing for several years, and of which Eversole said he was aware. He commented to several media representatives last year that he expected to be indicted.
Eversole is charged in the detailed indictment, with receiving such things as vacations, clothing, antique firearms, and financial support for his home mortgage from Surface, and in return voting to award Surface and several of his companies with lucrative county contracts. He also appointed Surface to the Sports Authority Board, and even conspired to retire in favor of Surface assuming his commissioner’s seat, according to the indictment.
Among the alleged gifts are a $63,000 cashiers check from Surface, which prosecutors say Eversole used to but land for his home, $17,000 in landscaping and $23,000 in antique firearms.
Eversole’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, stated that the two men have been friends for over 25 years, and the dealings were personal and not related to county business or favors.
In the prosecution’s opening statement, given on March 8, they said that Eversole traded favorable votes in commissioners’ court for money and gifts.
Eversole has countered that there is no proof that he committed a crime.
If convicted, Eversole faces up to 21 years in prison and $700,000.
In 2009, the Texas Ethics Commission fined Eversole $75,000 for violation campaign finance laws. At the time it was the largest fine that the ethics commission had ever levied.
Eversole has served as county commission for six terms. Last November he won the sixth term against no opposition.
Surface’s trial is expected to be held in October.