Williamson County Judge Dan Gattis was charged Wednesday with official oppression by county prosecutors after he allegedly threatened to strip funding from Sheriff Robert Chody over tweets he didn't like, report multiple sources late Wednesday. Chody reportedly has over 10,600 twitter followers.
The charge is the result of an encounter between Gattis and Chief Deputy Sheriff Tim Ryle at commissioners court Tuesday, according to officials.
"He stuck his finger in my chest - he didn't actually touch me - and said, 'Tell that sheriff if he doesn't quit tweeting, I’m going zero his budget out,’" Chief Deputy Tim Ryle told the American-Statesman and KVUE Wednesday. My comment to him was, 'Judge, are you sure you want to say that?' He said, ‘Yes, tell him to stop tweeting about me and my people.'"
Ryle submitted a sworn criminal complaint to county prosecutors, who brought the charge against Gattis.
County officials issued a summons for Gattis, who is the county's top executive, to come to state district court in lieu of being arrested on the misdemeanor charge.
Chody said he was surprised to hear about the alleged threat.
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