Arcola Mayor Arrested for Illegal Voting

The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office has made an announcement regarding the arrest of the mayor of Arcola, Texas. Mayor Fred Barton, aged 68, was indicted on various charges this week, which include illegal voting and other fraudulent activities.

Barton spent the night in jail facing two counts of illegal voting, as well as charges for misusing information, falsifying government records, and securing the execution of a document, based on an indictment released on Wednesday. Additionally, he has separate accusations linked to his dealings with the city.

In a past election in 2026, Barton reclaimed the mayor’s office from his opponent, Vida Williams, after receiving a total of 101 votes compared to her 79.

Prosecutors have stated that Barton is accused of having two City Council members approve fraudulent checks amounting to at least $30,000 in 2023. Moreover, the indictment alleges he tried to assist individuals in voting during this year’s election and the upcoming 2025 election, despite knowing they were not residents of Arcola.

Barton drew media attention in April 2024 when he reported a threatening package sent to him, which included a noose, amid divisive political tensions. He claimed it came with a note instructing him to exit the race. “It’s a terrible slap in the face for a black man to see something like that. I thought we were better than that as a society,” he commented at the time.

The local police chief reached out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation about this incident. Barton expressed that this election cycle has been especially challenging but stated he wouldn’t let such racial threats affect his campaign.

The city of Arcola, with around 2,000 residents, has not provided any further comments on Barton’s arrest, as the city council members remain silent on the issue. In response to inquiries, Barton remarked that he would address all concerns in court.

If convicted, the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office has indicated that Barton could face a prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years for even just one count of illegal voting.

Barton has served as mayor four times, with three consecutive terms from 2018 to 2024, and is seeking re-election this year.