Only a few days ago, Commissioner Jerry Eversole appeared relaxed and confident as he worked the room prior to the start of the “State of the County Address” given by County Judge Ed Emmett.
This morning Eversole will appear in a federal courtroom downtown for the start of Jury selection. He’s accused of accepting bribes from a friend and developer in exchange for county contracts and appointments.
Eversole insists he is innocent of the charges and asked for a speedy trial following his indictment last December.
If convicted, he faces up to 21 years in prison, a $700,000 fine and could be forced to resign from office.
Meanwhile, Harris County Commissioners court is scheduled to vote on a new budget Tuesday and it remains to be seen if Commissioner Eversole will attend the meeting.
The county is facing serious financial challenges and some of the anticipated cuts could lead to job losses and a reduction in services.
Mary Benton Media 