Grand jury indicts Granite Shoals councilman

The Highlander
By Connie Swinney Associate Editor 
Friday, December 16, 2022

A Granite Shoals City Council member faces a state jail felony charge following an indictment by a Burnet County grand jury in December.

On Dec. 15, Phillip Ort was booked into the Burnet County Jail with a $5,000 bond on a charge criminal mischief ($2,500 to $30,000). He remained in custody by press time that day.

Marble Falls police reported that the incident allegedly occurred on Oct. 20, 2021 when police responded to a report of a 2015 Mercedes with scratch damage in the HEB parking lot. Police allege Ort scratched the vehicle because of a perceived handicap parking violation by the car owner.

A follow up investigation unfolded over several weeks, encompassing a collection of store surveillance video, a search through social media for the suspect and eventually a statement from Ort to police.

Ort admitted he was near the vehicle but denied he caused damage to it.

About a month later, Ort was booked into the county jail on a class A misdemeanor criminal mischief ($750 to $2,500), which is punishable by up to a year in county jail and a $4,000 fine. In November of this year, that charge was dismissed by a Burnet County judge.

A grand jury, which was convened by the 33rd/42th Judicial District Attorney's Office, came back with the state jail felony indictment, on Dec. 6, within a month of the misdemeanor dismal.

The grand jury decision also comes on the heels of a formal sanctioning or censure vote by Ort’s fellow council members in September.

Granite Shoals City Council adopted Resolution No. 687 on Sept. 27 in connection with the councilman’s alleged behavior.

“In the resolution, the city council expresses its concerns about Mr.

Ort’s conduct, and adopted a formal censure,” City Attorney Joshua Katz explained. "A censure is an expression of disapproval by the city council.” Those, in attendance, who voted for the sanc tion were council members Samantha Ortis, Steve Hougen, Ron Munos, Aaron Garcia and Eddy McCoy. Ort abstained.

“It is not a suspension from office or removal from office," he added.

“Because Mr. Ort is an elected official, suspension and removal may only occur in a manner allowed by state law or the charter of the city of Granite Shoals.”

Katz continued that the “sanction” action does not come with requirements of a council member who receives one.

Instead, the action enters a public statement into record reinforcing that the council “disapproves" of conduct of an official.

During the past year, Ort has come under fire due to alleged contentious interactions with at least one other council member, the former city manager and the current acting city manager. He has also resigned and rescinded his resignation.

Despite the controversy, voters re-elected him to his seat in May.

More specifically, the action alleged he violated the city’s ethics ordinance and the state Public Information Act.

In the meantime, Ort will contend with the alleged criminal proceedings. An arraignment on the criminal mischief indictment is scheduled for Feb. 15 in front of 424th Judicial District Judge Evan Stubbs.