Former Grapevine animal control supervisor sentenced

A former Grapevine animal control supervisor was sentenced Wednesday to 30 days in jail and 10 years of deferred adjudication after admitting to stealing nearly $50,000 from the city to buy big-ticket items for himself.

State District Judge Scott Wisch also ordered Lawrence Charles Hopkins, 60, of Aurora, to pay restitution for the full amount, if possible, for items that were purchased with the stolen funds. The scheme lasted for several years, beginning in 2007, officials said.

Appearing frail and using an oxygen tank, Hopkins took the witness stand to apologize for what he had done.

"I am real sorry for the embarassment I've caused the city of Grapevine," he said. He pleaded guilty in January to a charge of theft of up to $20,000 by a public servant.

Wisch said Hopkins' poor health contributed to his decision to grant deferred adjudication, a form of probation that, if completed, will not leave a conviction on Hopkins' record.

Hopkins, a legal resident, is a native of England and moved to the United States in 1981. Wisch cited his military service for England in the Queen's Regiment and Hopkins' son's service in the U.S. military as contributing factors in the decision to defer adjudication.

But Wisch insisted he spend 30 days in the county jail.

"There's no excuse for what you did," Wisch said. "You should have known better ... There needs to be a message sent: Don't steal from the public."

An accomplice, feed store owner Arthur M. Waters, 60, was sentenced to five years probation last year.

Prosecutor David Lobingier said Waters submitted falsified invoices for phony purchases of dog food, dog cages and kennel panels to the city, and Hopkins approved the payments. Waters then purchased items for Hopkins, including a $2,600 cargo trailer, a $1,983 boat motor and a $1,250 winch.

Grapevine officials said Wednesday that many of the items were recovered, and will be auctioned off later this year. The money recouped from the auction will be credited toward the amount of restitution Hopkins must pay.

Hopkins oversaw the city's animal control division, which is part of the city police department. He left the department in April 2010.

Defense attorney Brett Boone had urged the judge to give Hopkins deferred adjudication so he would not be deported back to England.

-Dianna Hunt

 

Comments

[Sandy Napier]

ANYONE who steals from the public, ESPECIALLY now, should have the book thrown at them! This man should have been DEPORTED for coming over here & ripping us off!

[Car Theft Solicitors London]

You cannot deport a US national, which this guy obviously now is after 30 years of living in the US!

There is NEVER an appropriate time to steal, which is what is inferred by Sandy's comment.

Bottom line is, do the crime, do the time!

[Daniel Allison]

If his health is as bad as indicated the thirty days may well be a sentence of life. If he is sent to prison then we, the tax payers, would be responsible for his medical care expenses. The judge seems to have made a fair decision to balance the need for justice against the best interest for the public.

[Chris]

It's amazing how many people don't understand how bad Deferred Adjudication is. Yeah, it's true you don't have to sit in the pokey. But people think you get a second chance after the probation period. Such is absolutely NOT the case. You can vote, which a convicted felon cannot do. You can serve jury duty, which a convicted felon cannot do. You can buy firearms, which a convicted felon cannot do. BUT you might never work again. All potential employers can see the charges on a background check.... forever. So if you say that you are not a felon on the application, they think you lied. If you must check the yes box, then why can you vote and buy firearms? This is the big scam, the big lie, from the state of Texas. Over 2 million people. You would think they actually want people to work. But they don't care because there's no money in it. There's no state income tax. If there were, you would see this loophole fixed PRONTO. I speak from experience. Scott Wisch gave me three years probation and deferred adjudication in 1993. Beginning in 1996, when I was "released", I was never again able to get a job if they did a background check. So... report on that, why don't ya...