Councilman Halden Griffith faces a bribery charge after Westworth Village police allege he distributed pastry boxes with campaign materials before the May election.
WESTWORTH VILLAGE, Texas — A sitting Westworth Village city councilman is facing a bribery charge after investigators accused him of distributing pastry boxes with campaign materials to voters who had not yet cast ballots in the city’s May election.
According to a felony arrest warrant affidavit obtained by WFAA, Councilman Halden David Griffith is charged with bribery, a second-degree felony.
Investigators with the Westworth Village Police Department allege Griffith distributed pastry boxes valued at more than $20, along with campaign materials supporting specific city council candidates and opposing a local development project tied to Trinity Terrace.
The affidavit states the investigation began May 2 after Mayor L. Kelly Jones received reports from residents about pastry boxes left on doorsteps alongside political flyers.
According to the affidavit, Mayor Jones, Councilman Michael Dingman, and Susan Jones searched the neighborhood and located multiple white pastry boxes with campaign materials attached. Investigators said the flyers had previously been distributed by city council candidate Michael Bachand.
The affidavit alleges that Mayor Jones later observed Griffith delivering boxes door to door while driving a black Jeep with a Jurassic Park spare tire cover. Investigators said Jones photographed Griffith allegedly leaving boxes at homes throughout the city.
Police also reviewed neighborhood surveillance and Ring camera footage that investigators said showed Griffith entering a gated subdivision on multiple occasions around the time of the deliveries.
According to the affidavit, one couple told investigators a man later identified as Griffith spoke with them about the election and a proposed apartment development project after leaving pastries at their home. The affidavit states the residents told police the man asked whether they had voted and discussed opposition to apartments being built on the Kite Farm property.
Investigators allege the pastry boxes were specifically delivered to homes of registered voters who had not yet voted in the election.
“By only targeting the non-registered voters on election day, and by giving a gift with campaign material, it directly affected the election,” the affidavit states.
Defense attorneys Mark Daniel and Matt Smid released a statement defending Griffith.
“This is an attempt to criminalize petty city politics. This case does not even begin to resemble bribery. The community of Westworth Village should be both concerned and embarrassed by the actions of its Mayor,” attorneys Mark Daniel and Matt Smid said.
Court records show a magistrate signed the felony arrest warrant in Tarrant County. Griffith is accused of knowingly providing gifts in exchange for votes for specific candidates during the May 2 election. The investigation remains ongoing.