Convicted Thief Running for MUD – Place 1

May 27, 2020 – Trophy Club, TX

The Trophy Club Journal has learned that David Paul Stout, who is running for Place 1 of the Trophy Club Municipal Utility District (MUD) has been arrested twice for theft.

Mr. Stout’s first arrest for theft was an adult misdemeanor charge in 1995. The second arrest was an adult felony in 1997. Mr. Stout was 24 at the time of his sentencing for the 2nd arrest.

For the felony charges, Stout paid $6880.25 in restitution and fees; served 120 hours of community service and was on probation for 4 years. The Adult Misdemeanor charges came with $1051.75 in restitution and fees; 30 hours of community service and 1 year of probation.

In the State of Texas any theft with a value above $1500 is a felony.

Under Texas law, a convicted felon can regain the right to vote and hold public office after their sentence is complete. Mr. Stout’s case was discharged on 12/05/2001. He has not been convicted of any criminal activity since.

In November 2018, Mr. Stout defended Eric Jensen, (former Councilman and current candidate for Mayor) at a Town Council meeting. (Image above). Jensen had just announced on Facebook his intention to run for Mayor, and when he learned that his announcement would constitute a resignation from the Town Council under the Texas Constitution’s “Resign to Run” laws, he started backtracking. Jensen changed his story to say that his comment was made in jest and that he didn’t mean for it to be an “announcement” to run for Mayor. Jensen even questioned whether the Texas Constitution applied to him.

While speaking to the council, Mr. Stout accused Councilman Greg Lamont of gamesmanship and politics. However, as the events have subsequently unfolded, we now know that Mr. Stout wasn’t some random “concerned citizen”. He is a personal friend of Jensen and was astroturf to deflect attention away from Jensen and onto Lamont. We also know that Jensen did indeed mean it when he announced his run for Mayor and it was the two of them who were playing politics.

At the time, Jensen believed that Lamont would likely be running against him for Mayor. Facts now show that to be a false presumption on the part of Jensen but it does illustrate the great lengths Mr. Jensen would go to attack a potential political rival.

Kevin R. Carr & Torri Stephens-Bonty, PhD., are running against Mr. Stout for Place 1 of the MUD. The Trophy Club Journal also ran background checks on these individuals and found no criminal history.

Reference the public documents below for David Stout’s application for MUD Place 1 and his arrest record.