COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — Republican State Representative Frederick Frazier of McKinney pleaded no contest Tuesday to two Class A misdemeanor charges of attempting to impersonate a public servant.
Frazier also pleaded guilty to a Class C misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief. His attorneys said the case had been handled and the fee was paid online.
Frazier, a 28-year Dallas police officer and freshman lawmaker in the Texas House, appeared in the Collin County Courthouse Tuesday morning to enter his plea. The plea deal he was given includes one year of deferred adjudication probation and one fine of $4,000, another of $3,922, and restitution of $78 for the Class A misdemeanor charges.
The plea comes one day after Frazier filed to retire from the Dallas Police Department. Deputy Police Chief Monique Alex confirmed to WFAA that because Frazier is retiring while under investigation, he will be released with a dishonorable discharge. This means he cannot work as a law enforcement officer in Texas again.
Frazier can continue to serve the Texas House of Representatives with a misdemeanor. Had he been convicted of a felony, Frazier would have faced expulsion.
In June 2022, Frazier was indicted for impersonating a code enforcement officer after Dr. Paul Chabot, Frazier’s then-opponent in the GOP runoff, reported his campaign signs began "disappearing," including from an area Walmart.
According to Chabot, he was told by the city manager that his signs "were fine." Chabot said a Walmart store manager told him a person claiming to be a code compliance officer ordered the signs be removed because they were out of compliance.
That person was later determined to be Frazier.
The Texas Rangers began an investigation into Frazier after Chabot filed a police report after some of his signs were allegedly stolen.
Frazier did not speak with media Tuesday, but his attorney, Robert Rogers, spoke on his behalf. Rogers called the Walmart encounter a miscommunication.
"To this day, [Frazier] denies that he ever specifically said he was a code compliance officer," Rogers said. "He's just pointing out these signs are in the wrong place."
Rogers called the case against Frazier a political ploy that he's happy to put to rest.
"Mr. Chabot is a sore loser," Rogers said. "He's obsessed with trying to take form [Frazier] because he couldn't do it legitimately."
Chabot said he is glad to see Frazier exposed for having his signs unlawfully removed.
"Frazier is the George Santos of Texas," Chabot said, calling Frazier a liar. "I looked at a coward today who has no business being in public office."
Chabot called on constituents, House Speaker Dade Phelan, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Governor Greg Abbott to pull their support from Frazier. Gov. Abbott recently endorsed Frazier for reelection when he threw his support behind House Republicans who supported creating education savings accounts, his top priority of the regular and special legislative sessions.
Meanwhile, two challengers for Frazier’s seat, Keresa Richardson and Chuck Branch, also appeared at the courthouse for the proceedings. Outside, supporters of both held signs calling for Frazier's resignation.
Rogers called the calls for the resignation "stupid."
Frazier filed for re-election last month.
“This whole thing started as politics. They want to make it politics. We’re putting it to bed," Rogers said. “This was a distraction. At the end of the day, [Frazier] didn’t need this distraction and he’s ready to move on.”