GOP leaders plead no contest to fraud charges, ordered to resign
Bandera County Republican Party Chair Conrad Striegl and Treasurer Cari Rene Leith were ordered to resign as part of a pretrial intervention order signed Thursday, Sept. 28.
Streigl, 74, and Leith, 63, entered a plea of no contest last Thursday to the charge of fraudulent securing of document execution, according to documents obtained by the Bulletin Monday from the Bandera County District Clerk.
A plea of no contest “to the facts that constitute the evidence” laid out in their indictment for the case led to a pretrial agreement placing both on probation through Dec. 1.
The aforementioned indictment said Streigl and Leith had “intent to defraud or harm Lynn Hauter and caused another person, namely, Jennifer Jenson, without that person’s effective consent, to sign or execute documents affecting property or service of the pecuniary interest of Lynn Hauter.”
As part of the pretrial intervention order signed by both Striegl and Leith, the duo was ordered to resign their positions in the county party, follow stipulations of their probation and each pay a fine of $3,000 and bond of $500.
Striegl and Leith were indicted in January on fraud charges stemming from a complaint from then-chair Lynn Haueter saying she had been illegally removed from a party bank account.
After almost two hours of discussions last Thursday between Bandera County D.A. Stephen Harpold and Striegl’s and Leith’s attorneys, Roy Barrera and Mark Barrera, the parties returned to the courtroom with Judge Keith Williams presiding.
Before Williams addressed the group, the court clerk collected Strigel’s and Leith’s thumbprints and swearing-in of their attachments to the drafted agreements.
Williams stated, “I appreciate that you came together and worked this out then confirmed that Striegl’s and Leith’s indictments were identical and that their pleas would be entered together.
The soon-to-be former chair and treasurer were ordered to check in with a probation order until Dec. 1.
William’s stressed that if the requirements of probation were not met, the D.A. could reinstitute their cases.
“If you comply with the terms and conditions, then your cases will be dismissed,” he said.
Williams concluded by stating, “The court finds that the pleas have been made voluntarily. I feel this is an appropriate agreement.”
Should the two abide by their agreements, the DA will prosecute the charge of fraudulent securing of document execution between $2,500 and $30,000.
STATEMENTS FROM INVOLVED PARTIES (ALPHABETICALLY) Editor’s Note: Statements were delivered to the Bulletin via email and were not edited for content.
Lynn Hauter
“This is a good day for our justice system. The guilty have been held accountable. I feel vindicated. Both Mr. Striegl and Ms. Leith have been forced to resign their offices, must serve a felony probation and pay a substantial fine. Striegl and Leith have attempted to deceive the public for over a year claiming they did nothing wrong. Wellnow we know the truth. Their plea of “No Contest” says it all! My deep thanks to the Texas Attorney General’s office for the excellent investigative work they did to get the indictment. And thanks to the District Attorney for making sure they suffer the consequences of their crimes.”
Cari Rene Leith
“We objected to the “fines” so our attorneys said they will be paying the fines. There was nothing within the order that prevents us from continuing to be involved with the GOP, because that would be unconstitutional, so we will both continue to devote our time and treasure, to the Bandera County GOP and will be VERY involved, just as we have been in the past, just in other capacities.
We have made great strides in our county and when other counties visit us or we go to other counties, they are astonished at the work we put in at the county and state level and the great strides we’ve made.
Butch, most of our CEC, and I, are dedicated to our community and dedicated to preserving our faith, freedom, and way of life within Bandera County. Nothing can change that - not bogus lawsuits, not threats, not smears in the paper and on social media, and not political vendettas.
Those who have come after us have only strengthened our resolve and pushed us to band together, stronger than ever. They will soon realize they will get the opposite result than what they expected.
With or without a title, we will work harder than ever to bring the best to our community. We are confident that the current, extraordinary Bandera County Executive Committee will keep the momentum going and continue to make progress!”
Conrad Striegl
“Leith and Striegl vindicated. All charges dismissed and records expunged. Case dismissed and will be expunged, meaning it never happened. No evidence, case based on lies perpetrated by the Haueter and that’s why the DA literally begged our attorney to take a dismissal once he had read all the fake charges.
“This was a political vendetta from the start. Why? Because the Bandera County Executive Committee held these California native liberals accountable for their actions and censured her, which had never happened before. Not in Bandera County and not in Texas.
“You come to our State, you check your liberal California habits at the border. They failed to do that. And once their evil deed was done, where did they go? Back to California to drink wine with their liberal friends and Governor Newsome. They could not stand the fact that we censured her because this is how they make their living by going from county to county destroying Republican Parties.
“In fact, before they left, she told members of the CEC that she would burn this M’Fer down and gave it one hell of a try. They are Democrats in disguise. No, they are worse than Democrats because they would destroy Texas and this country for a dollar.
“Again, NO EVIDENCE. CASE DISMISSED. I am sure that the story that they will portray will be different but keep in mind that as soon as this case was filed, where did they go? Back to CA, back to their liberal friends, back to a State that seeks to destroy Texas.
“To prove my point that the Haueters lived by the LIE, they and their imported CA friends said we closed all the accounts and took the money, remember. The investigator proved we did not do that. So, what did they charge us with? Fraudulent submission of a document, a Medicare statue. No wonder they dismissed all.
“Their case was based on lies and falsehoods from the very beginning. Sound familiar? Look what they are doing to Trump and tried to do to Paxton and are doing all over Texas. We are not the only rural county under attack in Texas by liberals like the Haueters. There are 17 counties being attacked like we were and that’s just the ones I know of.
“Finally, stepping down from an office where you receive no pay, work 30 or 40 hours a week, spend countless hours on research to defend this county and State from people like the Haueters was what we agreed to. We were NOT directed to step down. We agreed to this as part of dismissal and expungement process and a way to put this behind us so we could do the work of the Republican party. A party that the Haueters abandoned for their liberal CA friends.
“So where do Rene and I go from here? We will remain active in the County Republican Party because unlike the Haueters, we are native and true Texans and patriots with integrity that do not need a TITLE to defend our State and country.
“We will continue running the Republican Party county elections process, going to Austin to fight for border security, election integrity, property tax reform, the protection of our children from the trans community and your 2nd amendment rights and finishing the process of getting Murr censured at State level for the impeachment of Paxton. Keep in mind that Haueter supported Murr in his last election.
“The rest of us saw through Murr and worked against him. So, by proxy, the Haueters are responsible for the impeachment of Paxton. I am told they are quite proud of that. In the near future your GOP’s newsletter will come out and you can read a detailed factual explanation of what actually happened. God bless Texas and each of you.”
Editor’s Note: The Bulletin reached out to DA Stephen Harpold for comment but did not receive a response by press time.