A Texas mayor faces five felony charges following an arrest that authorities confirm was the result of alleged misconduct spanning multiple elections and public contracts.
City of Arcola Mayor Fred Burton, 68, was charged with two counts of illegal voting, one count each of fraud, tampering with government records, and misuse of official information. The charges stem from incidents between 2023 and 2026, according to court records.
The illegal voting allegations involve the 2025 Arcola Municipal runoff election and the 2026 City of Arcola special election. Prosecutors allege Burton knowingly enabled or failed to prevent three individuals from casting ballots despite their ineligibility, as detailed in grand jury indictments.
Separate charges from 2023 include allegations of using confidential knowledge to influence a $15,000 municipal contract bid and submitting a fraudulent estimate to the city government. Additionally, Burton faces accusations of persuading city council members to approve two checks totaling between $30,000 and $150,000 under false pretenses.
Authorities confirmed Burton’s arrest occurred on Tuesday night. The charges reflect a pattern of alleged abuse of public office spanning more than three years, with each case under investigation by local prosecutors.
