Charity Theft Investigation Results in 3 Felony Indictments

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX -- The Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constables in conjunction with our partners: The Montgomery County District Attorney’s (DA) Office; Willis Independent School District (ISD), the Montgomery County Food Bank and Crime Stoppers have concluded a six (6) month investigation that resulted in indictments on three (3) individuals for Theft/ Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity; A Second Degree Felony.

The Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office received a tip from the Montgomery County Crime Stoppers about a series of thefts that had been occurring at the Willis Independent School District (ISD), Parent Support Center. The Parent Support Center is a facility located on the Roark Early Developmental Campus located at 606 North Campbell Street in Willis, Texas.

The Parent Support Center (PSC) was initially established by Willis ISD to help struggling families with food and clothes. The PSC had been in operation for the past seventeen (17) years and was closed in September 2020 due to concerns within the district.

The PSC would take in donations from our community and then allow any needy family to receive these donations from this facility. Food items were donated to the PSC by the Montgomery County Food Bank allowing them to better serve our community.
Based on the Crime Stoppers tip, School Resource Officers (SRO) reviewed surveillance footage of the campus and learned that suspects would arrive at the PSC and load trucks with donated items; sometimes this would happen within a couple hours of the Food Bank making their delivery.

Investigators learned that employees from the PSC would stock the pantry shelves and then sell the excess items that were appropriated from the community and the Montgomery County Food Bank. Investigators believe that this had been occurring prior to the PSC being closed. The stolen items included: chips, drinks; small household items (toasters, blenders); cosmetics, personal hygiene products (shampoo, conditioner, tooth paste) and first aid items (bandages and over the counter medication). Investigators believe that these items were then resold at area flea markets.

The PSC was closed due to these concerns but reopened in November 2020 under a new name (Wildkat Resource Center). All three suspects were arrested for Theft / Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity a Second (2nd) Degree Felony.

Constable Cash further wish to thank our community partners, Willis ISD and the Montgomery County Food Bank; along with our law enforcement partners, Crime Stoppers, the DA’s office for their cooperation in this investigation and putting an end to the exploitation of the generosity within our community.

All subjects were arrested without incident and taken to the Montgomery County Jail. Bond was set at ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) per person.

Arrested:
Teresa Joyce Herod, W/F, 73 years old from Willis, Texas; Bond $10,000.00;
Samuel Anthony Saldana, W/M, 50 years old from Baytown, Texas; Bond $10,000.00.
Previously Arrested:
Christopher Paul Walker, B/M, 42 years old from Conroe, Texas; Bond $10,000.00;

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