Officer Michael Barnett Arrest for Fraud

A Graham police officer was arrested June 12.

Officer Michael Kent Barnett, 48, a former Young County paramedic and reserve officer with the Young County Sheriff’s Office, was charged with four counts of fraud.

Police Chief Tony Widner said on June 5 he was notified of a possible criminal offense by an officer.

"I immediately contacted the DA’s office and turned the investigation over to DA investigator Jim Reeves," he said.

The allegation involved the forging of prescriptions. During the course of the investigation, Barnett cooperated fully with the department and the district attorney’s office, said Widner.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained from Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Jim Ross, Barnett used a forged prescription to receive Lorcet, a prescription painkiller containing hydrocodone from Jordan’s Pharmacy on May 26.

The affidavit says the prescriptions were signed by Dr. Pete Barrera. When shown the prescriptions, Barrera denied writing them or authorizing anyone to write them for him.

District Attorney Brenda Gray said when public officials are accused of wrongdoing, it is normal and appropriate to ask an outside agency to investigate.

"There are some times an agency, even to avoid the appearance of impropriety, they will ask the DA to investigate," Gray said. "In this case, Chief Widner contacted our office immediately. We determined because of the nature of the allegations, we needed to start an investigation immediately."

Gray and Reeves said often the Texas Rangers are asked to investigate crimes involving law enforcement officials. Reeves said the only drawback with using the Rangers is the protocol to get an investigation started can take several days.
"We didn’t want to wait to get the Rangers," Gray said.

On June 12, Barnett was terminated from employment with the Graham Police Department, arrested and booked into the Young County Jail. Barnett was charged with four counts of fraud and had bonds set at $25,000 on each charge. As of Thursday, he had bonded out of jail.

Widner said the situation is disappointing at best.

"It’s sad when this happens to anybody, even more when the public trust is placed in a police officer, and that is why this department has a zero tolerance policy," he said. "Whenever we are notified of and have reason to believe that a criminal offense has been committed by an officer, it is our policy to turn that investigation over to an outside agency. We don’t show favoritism ... It’s cost him his career and he’s looking at criminal charges."

Reeves complimented Widner on the way he handled the case, saying he knows from firsthand experience how difficult it can be when allegations are made against employees.

"Chief Widner displayed exemplary leadership and integrity because he contacted our office as soon as he was aware of the complaint," Reeves said. "He immediately initiated an investigation through me."

While it is always disappointing, Reeves said sometimes even law enforcement officials make mistakes. As the longtime Stephens County sheriff, Reeves said he has learned to let outside agencies decide whether a crime was committed.

"Anytime you have employees, you’re going to have problems," Reeves said. "You always ask an outside agency to investigate to avoid the appearance of impropriety or favoritism."