Former PA supervisor found guilty of theft

Published 2:18 pm Saturday, December 16, 2017

Joseph Soliz, 57, former city of Port Arthur water utilities distribution maintenance supervisor, was convicted this week of six individual counts of stealing copper, a third-degree felony offense.

The sentence was handed down Thursday in Judge Racquel West’s 252nd District Court at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont.

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Soliz’s lawyer, James Makin, said West reduced the sentence from two years in prison to five years probation. The jury deliberated for five and a half hours to find him guilty, just 11 minutes for his punishment.

Soliz and Makin were unsure if they would appeal the sentence.

“When Mr. Soliz worked there the policies in place were very unclear. He had no intent to steal, but the jury disagreed,” Makin said. “Now he’s a convicted felon and it’s something he will have to live with the rest of his life. But he will finish his probation with no problem.”

Ken Florence, assistant district attorney for Jefferson County, said Soliz will go to prison for two years if he violates his probation.

“The jury’s action sends a message we won’t tolerate corruption or theft by public employees. We’re pleased with the sentence,” Florence said.

Soliz was arrested by Port Arthur police in February 2016, accused of stealing various metals owned by the city and selling the stolen property to a metal scrap yard in Beaumont. Bond was set at $72,000 and he was placed on unpaid administrative leave.

District Attorney Bob Wortham’s office said Soliz was believed to have sold almost eight tons of regulated metal and profited $26,000 during a seven-year period.

With Soliz’s arrest, eight Port Arthur city employees have been charged with public integrity crimes in a little more than a year. Two Port Arthur business owners have also been arrested in connection with those crimes.

City employees arrested include:

·      Steven R. Guidry, a supervisor in the city’s streets department charged with engaging in criminal activity and theft by a public servant.

·      Randle David Jr., a streets supervisor charged with engaging in criminal activity and theft by a public servant.

·      John Tomplait, Port Arthur assistant water utilities director, theft of metal.

·      Robert LeBlanc, water meter services supervisor, theft of metal.

·      Carlton Edwards, superintendent of streets, credit card abuse.

·      Sharon Shelvin, a municipal courts clerk, tampering with government documents.

·      Shauwn Williams, a temporary employee working for the city, submitting fraudulent lawn care invoices for services never rendered.