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Attorney says Harris County treasurer’s behavior was ‘unusual’ but had ‘no intention to commit a theft’

Jan 2, 2026: Harris County Treasurer Dr Carla Wyatt (R) with her attorney, Christopher Downey outside court after her arrest on misdemeanor theft charges. (Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)

HOUSTON – The attorney for Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt, who is accused of breaking into a vehicle, speaks on her behavior during the time of the crime after her first court hearing Friday.

Wyatt has been charged with burglary of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor.

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Documents allege she was found sitting inside a vehicle outside a lounge and bar called Forget Me Not and refused to leave.

Attorney Christopher Downey agrees Wyatt’s behavior was unusual but says she did not commit a crime.

Jan 2, 2026: Harris County Treasurer Dr Carla Wyatt (R) with her attorney, Christopher Downey in court after her arrest on misdemeanor theft charges. (Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)

Downey says during the hearing, there was not enough information for the judge to decide if they case should move forward. Wyatt’s next hearing has been set for Jan. 26, where they will come back and determine her case.

“I’m confident that once we do that, that everybody will understand that there was absolutely no intention to commit a theft. And that this was a circumstance where, although some unusual behavior occurred, no criminal behavior occurred,” Downey said.

He said Wyatt was seated in a car that belonged to someone else, but under the criminal code, that, in itself is not an act of theft.

“It’s very important to understand that—the act of theft only occurs when you commit behavior with the intention to commit a crime and that didn’t happen in this case,” Downey said.


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