Gregg County JP clerk arrested

Gregg County Sheriff 's Office warrant deputies yesterday arrested a former Gregg County Justice of the Peace clerk who had worked at Judge Sam Lawson's office until she resigned late last week.

Sheriff 's investigators and Texas Rangers initiated a criminal investigation after documents were discovered that indicated Dale Donna Wallace

aka Donna Bradley Wallace) tampered with governmental records with the intent to defraud or harm Gregg County.

"What warranted this investigation was developed through a background employment investigation being done by a Texas Department of Public Safety Supervisor in Longview," Mike Claxton, Gregg County lieutenant, said.

According to Claxton, Wallace had been employed by Gregg County since October 2006.

"Our investigation revealed that Wallace used an altered form of identification, with knowledge of its falsity, as a genuine governmental record to gain employment with Gregg County and to defraud the Social Security Administration," Maxey Cerliano, Gregg County Sheriff said today.

Claxton said Wallace was in the process of applying for a lateral transfer county position at the Longview Department of Public Safety Office when the activity was discovered.

Cecil Shelton, Gregg County investigator and Ronny Griffith, Texas Ranger, conducted an investigation.

A criminal complaint charging Wallace with Tampering with a Governmental Record was issued by Gregg County Criminal District Attorney's Office. Afterwards an arrest warrant was generated through the Precinct One Justice of the Peace Office.

According to Claxton, tampering with a Governmental Record is a third degree felony, punishable upon a conviction by two to 10 years in State prison and a fine.

"Although this crime is filed in a State setting, obviously there may be federal statue violations," Claxton said.

Investigators are in contact with the Federal Health and Human Services agency.

Bond on Wallace was set at $ 5,000.