A Jefferson County grand jury has indicted Joseph Soliz Jr. for six counts of theft by a public servant.

The indictments were handed down on Wednesday.

Soliz was the former water utilities distribution maintenance supervisor and is accused of stealing various metals owned by the city and selling the stolen property to a metal scrap yard in Beaumont, according to previous reporting.

Soliz surrendered to police in late February at his home.

According to a press release issued in February by Jefferson County Criminal District Bob Wortham’s office, Soliz is believed to have sold almost eight tons, or 16,000 pounds, of regulated metal and profited $26,000 during a seven-year-period.

An indictment is not a final conviction of guilt; it is only a ruling by the grand jury that allows the district attorney’s office to proceed with a criminal case.