The Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is investigating a complaint alleging the Terrell County Sheriff’s Office overcharged for public records related to Operation Lone Star. The complaint, filed by journalist David Flash, claims the agency issued an estimate of $600 without following the cost notification requirements in the Texas Public Information Act.
In an Aug. 5 letter to Sheriff Thad Cleveland, the OAG’s Open Records Division said the sheriff’s office failed to provide the required itemized statement under Section 552.2615 of the Government Code. State law requires governmental bodies charging more than $40 for records to give requestors a detailed written estimate, notify them of less expensive alternatives, and include other mandatory notices. The letter warns that noncompliance could limit the agency to collecting no more than $40 for the request.
The sheriff’s office has 10 business days to explain how it calculated the estimate, identify the location and format of the records, and state whether any redactions will be made.
Neighboring Presidio and Brewster counties complied with similar public information requests. Jeff Davis County, however, has not been questioned by the OAG yet and also failed to comply, initially demanding thousands of dollars before later reducing the estimate to hundreds — amounts Flash contends were still unjustified.
The Terrell County matter is logged under ID# OR-25-001952-CC. The OAG review will determine whether the sheriff’s office must adjust its charges or take other corrective action.
