Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen Turner was indicted on federal charges alleging she used county payroll to pay employees for work they did not perform.

FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas - Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen Turner is facing federal criminal charges, and the county's top elected official has called for her resignation. But can she actually be removed from office before her criminal case is resolved?


The answer is yes, although an indictment alone does not automatically remove an elected official from office.

Texas law establishes a separate process for removing county officials under certain circumstances, as well as procedures for appointing replacements when an office becomes vacant.

Here's what residents should know.

Why are officials calling for Carmen Turner to resign?

Turner was arrested Thursday, Oct. 22, following a federal indictment alleging she participated in a scheme to use Fort Bend County payroll funds to compensate people for work they did not perform.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas, Turner and two other defendants face charges involving conspiracy, theft concerning federal program funds and wire fraud.

Federal prosecutors allege the scheme operated between September 2023 and September 2025.

The indictment accuses Turner of arranging for county employees to receive paychecks while performing personal services or working elsewhere instead of fulfilling their assigned county duties.

Turner is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

On Friday, Oct. 23, Fort Bend County Judge Daniel Wong called for Turner's resignation, citing concerns about public confidence in the tax assessor-collector's office.

As KPRC 2 previously reported, Turner can remain in office while the federal charges are pending.

Does a federal indictment automatically remove an elected official?

No.

An indictment is a formal criminal accusation. It does not establish guilt, and it does not, by itself, create a vacancy in the office of county tax assessor-collector.

That means Turner is not au
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