Houston Lawmaker And Attorney Facing Barratry Charges.
A Houston-area state lawmaker who is also an attorney is facing a felony charge accusing him of illegally soliciting court cases.
State Rep. Ronald Reynolds, a Democrat who represents the Fort Bend County area southwest of Houston, was free Wednesday after posting a $5,000 bond. He has been charged with barratry, which bars attorneys from directly soliciting clients who have not contacted them.
Reynolds, who is a former associate municipal judge, said the charges are politicized and he will cooperate with prosecutors to prove his innocence. In a criminal complaint, Reynolds is accused of having another person try to solicit legal work on the lawmaker's behalf from a car accident victim. That accident victim is another Houston attorney. She declined to comment when reached at her office.
