Fannin County, Texas -- On December 17th, 2025, the Fannin County District Attorney’s office secured a prison sentence of 30 years for the offense of Theft of Property greater than $300,000 By a Public Servant in the case against Kristina (Eaton) Smith, 53, of Leonard. Smith also received a $10,000.00 fine.
Smith served as the clerk for the Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 of Fannin County for 18 years. The employee theft was uncovered by an internal audit in mid-2024 conducted by Julie Criswell and a subsequent investigation by the Texas Rangers that revealed Smith over a span of at least six years, would systematically pocket cash from individuals paying for traffic citations and other court services. Smith routinely told those attempting to pay their traffic tickets that there was no credit card machine and sent them to a nearby ATM to withdraw cash she then took for herself, and altered the computerized records to hide the theft.
During the sentencing hearing, lead prosecutor Vanessa Vice questioned the defendant who then admitted she stole at least $380,000 dollars from Fannin County tax payers in her role as a county employee. Further, the Defendant admitted to spending that money freely on herself in frequent shopping sprees and travel.
Vice stated that “the court handed down a strong sentence that was well deserved. Smith didn’t make a mistake, she made hundreds of choices to steal cash over and over again—that is conduct—it is intentional criminal behavior. ”
“Stealing from our citizens, whom she was supposed to be serving in a position of public trust, demands the most severe consequences, and this sentence delivers that,” said First Assistant District Attorney Nathan Young. “This will stand as a warning to others who might think to do similar—this county won’t let you get away with a slap on the wrist.”
