Pre-trial hearing for EMS embezzlement case set for Friday

The couple accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from the Gonzales County Emergency Medical Services will appear in court Friday, June 23, for a pre-trial hearing on charges of misapplication of fiduciary property or property of a financial institution.

James (Jim) Edward Russell and Carla Jean Russell are scheduled to be in the courtroom of 25^th Judicial District Judge William D. Old III at 9 a.m. It is possible that a future trial date could be set by Old at that time.

The case against the Russells is now being prosecuted by the Texas Attorney General’s office, according to County Attorney Paul Watkins. Robert Bland is serving as attorney for both defendants.

The Russells were each indicted by a Gonzales County grand jury in November 2019 on one count of misapplication of fiduciary funds in the amount of $30,000 or more but less than $150,000 and one count of theft by public servant in the amount of $30,000 or more but less than $150,000.

The pair were initially arrested on June 4, 2018 following a lengthy investigation into allegations of misappropriation of Gonzales County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) funds. Jim Russell previously served as the EMS director while Carla Russell was the EMS’ acting bookkeeper.

While Jim Russell was under investigation by several law enforcement agencies in January 2018, the EMS board placed him on administrative leave without pay. When his arrest became public, he was terminated by the board on June 26, 2018. The board requested that Carla Russell resign from her position following her arrest and she obliged. 

The indictment alleges that between January 2011 to June 2018 the Russells misapplied EMS funds —over which they had responsibility — for their own benefit. This occurred by depositing money meant for the EMS and CPR classes into their own personal bank accounts, overpaying themselves or other employees for unworked hours, being paid by other entities while simultaneously being paid by the EMS and mishandling donations to the EMS.

Since the Russells were arrested and charged, the EMS merged with the Gonzales County Emergency Services District No. 1 and have come under the direction of Eddie Callendar Jr. and Allen Linebrink, who have worked to stabilize funding for the county’s EMS operations.

Pre-trial hearings for two other high-profile cases will not happen until August. Carol Russell, who is accused of shooting her husband to death, is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Aug. 3, while Jennifer Almaguer, accused of embezzling funds from the Gonzales Little League, will appear in court at 9 a.m. Aug. 14.