Jury Convicts Former Temple Police Officer of Revealing an Ongoing Investigation

This afternoon, a jury in Austin convicted 24–year-old former Temple police officer Erick French of lying the federal authorities about divulging the existence of an ongoing investigation announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher B. Combs, San Antonio Division.

Jurors convicted the Copperas Cove, TX, resident of one count of making a false statement to federal investigators.  Jurors found that, on March 21, 2016, French provided false information to FBI agents in an attempt to hide the fact that he had previously sent a text message alerting an individual to an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Temple Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit.  The jury acquitted French of a second false statement charge alleging that he provided false information about the matter when questioned by the FBI on March 16, 2016.

French faces up to five years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. 

French, who remains on a $25,000 bond, is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2017, before United States District Judge Sam Sparks. 

This conviction resulted from an investigation conducted by the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Temple Police Department. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Guess and Matt Harding are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.