Earlier this week, ABC13 reported that La Marque’s City Hall was the site of the resignation of their former city manager, J.B. Pritchett. This comes after he faced serious accusations of dishonesty on his job application. Now, police are actively searching for him, with multiple warrants out for his arrest.
The Allegations Against J.B. Pritchett
J.B. Pritchett resigned from his position as the city manager of La Marque on Monday after investigators revealed he had lied about his background on his job application.
The charges include two misdemeanors related to falsifying his military service and educational qualifications, claiming degrees from institutions he never attended. The most serious charges include two felonies and an additional misdemeanor for arson.
Police Chief Randall Aragon confirmed that authorities believe Pritchett set his own fence on fire on July 3 and falsely reported the incident as a crime committed by someone else.
According to Aragon, the false claim involved a vandalism act that was connected to the name of City Councilmember Joseph Lowry, who was spray-painted on the burned fence.
City Leaders Respond to the Scandal
Mayor Keith Bell spoke during the city council meeting on Monday, emphasizing that such incidents should never happen again.
He explained that the city would take necessary steps to improve the process of screening job applicants to ensure this type of situation doesn’t arise in the future. He described it as a “first step” in re-evaluating how the city vets candidates for leadership positions.
Police Chief Aragon also promised that further precautions would be put in place. He is confident that the city will implement stricter safeguards to prevent similar incidents from occurring again. He reassured the community that the situation would not repeat itself in La Marque.
Next Steps and Future Plans
As the investigation continues, local officials are working together to strengthen their candidate screening procedures. The hope is that these changes will prevent future dishonesty and unethical behavior in city government.
The city will continue to ensure transparency and accountability when hiring individuals for critical positions within the administration.
While the search for Pritchett continues, the city remains committed to learning from the experience and making changes that will ensure a more ethical, well-managed future for La Marque.
The situation surrounding J.B. Pritchett’s resignation and the ongoing investigation highlights the importance of thorough background checks and accountability within public offices.
La Marque’s city leaders are now focused on making necessary improvements to prevent such incidents in the future, ensuring that city residents can trust the integrity of their elected officials and staff.
