Former GS chief JP Wilson faces June 15 arraignment for aggravated perjury
Former Granite Shoals Police Chief J.P. Wilson
Former Granite Shoals police chief Joshua Patrick “J.P.” Wilson has been indicted on a charge of aggravated perjury, a third-degree felony, by a Burnet County grand jury — nearly two years to the date after he stepped down from his job.
Wilson, who turned himself in May 9 to Bee County Jail officials, was released on $15,000 bond the same day. He is scheduled to be arraigned June 15 before Judge Allan Garrett in Burnet County on Case Number 48099 and a status hearing is scheduled for July 27. He is being represented by attorney Charles Baird.
The charges in the May 8 indictment stem in connection with a “false statement” allegedly made by Wilson, 44, on Oct. 26, 2016, regarding whether he had possession of copies of a video recording or other records from the City of Granite Shoals and the police department when he left the city after serving 13 years as police chief.
Aggravated perjury is punishable, if convicted, by two to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
On October 24, 2016, a temprorary injunction was filed against Wilson demanding he return the material, which he reportedly did two days later after an agreement was reached before Burnet County Court at Law Judge Linda Bayless.
According to former Granite Shoals City Manager Ken Nickel, the material taken was confidential and should not have been taken from the city's possession by anyone, let alone Wilson. Neither city officials nor a lawyer representing Wilson would identify what was contained in the records.
“It’s not just police – anyone in the facility is not permitted to take confidential information,” he said shortly after the material was returned.
In April 2016, Wilson was put on administrative leave from city employment directly following an accident on that day, during which he was pulling a trailer with his pickup, collided with the vehicle ahead which was stopped at an intersection, and subsequently struck another auto crossing the intersection.
In a brief description of the accident, the investigating officer from the Marble Falls Police Department reported no skid marks were found and the possibility of a medical history of seizures existed.
Wilson did survive serious brain injury in a motorcycle accident in 2008, but returned to his role as chief of police afterward.
His last day as Granite Shoals police chief was May 6, 2016. He was succeeded by current Chief Gary Boshears, who was a captain in the police department at the time.
An April 2017 article by The News of San Patricio reported Wilson, as the Taft PD police captain, was taking over as acting chief in Taft, Texas, after then-Chief Klaus “Bill” Mansion was placed on administrative leave on a charge of official oppression.
Neither Mansion nor Wilson are listed on the police department's website anymore. Wilson's LinkedIn account still lists him as chief of police in Granite Shoals, though he has not held that position since May 2016. Wilson currently lives in Rockport, according to an online address listing.
