Harris County Constable & Two Employees Arrested

HOUSTON (AP) _ Federal authorities say a longtime Houston-area law enforcement official and two staff members have been arrested after their indictment by a grand jury on charges of bribery, conspiracy and illegally accessing a national crime database.

Harris County Precinct One Constable Jack Abercia, who is 78, was arrested Thursday along with 72-year-old Weldon Kenneth Wiener, his chief lieutenant, and Michael Butler, his office chief.

The indictment charges all three with conspiracy to violate various federal laws.

Abercia and Wiener are charged with unlawfully accessing the National Crime Information Center database for private financial gain.

Abercia and the 56-year-old Butler are also charged with allegedly accepting $5,000 to hire an unqualified applicant for a deputy constable position.

Court records did not list attorneys for the men.
         
     (Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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