Local preacher arrested for indiscretions as Hempstead Mayor

HEMPSTEAD- Hempstead Mayor Michael Shayne Wolfe was arrested Thursday, Oct. 3, on a state jail Felony charge of abuse of official capacity, according to the Waller County district attorney’s office.

Wolfe who also pastors at Bethleham Baptist Church, 6540 Texas State Highway 90 North in Anderson, was arrested after an audit of the city budget showed inconsistencies in the delinquent utility accounts of Wolfe and his daughter Demetria Wolfe.

According to findings, Wolfe was showed to owe over $10,000 in delinquent utility bills to the city of Hemp-stead. Wolfe admitted to knowing that he was behind on his bill but stated he never removed his name from the disconnect list.

Investigators stated Wolfe confessed to removing his daughter’s name from the list who owed over $9,000. According to reports Wolfe said he gave other residents extensions and saw no reason to treat his daughter differently.

Hempstead was scheduled to have a regularly scheduled City Council meeting Monday, Oct. 7, but it was rescheduled due to the number of attendees in an otherwise empty meeting room. The meeting will be moved to a larger venue and held Monday, Oct. 14.

Wolfe has stated he doesn’t intend to resign from his position as Mayor. He was released on a $5,000 bond Thursday, Oct. 3.

Updates to this case will be made as they are released.