SAN ANTONIO – State Representative Laura Thompson, the first independent to win a seat in the Texas Legislature in 50 years, turned herself in Thursday on a 2013 domestic violence warrant.
Thompson, who held off an attempt earlier this month to have her name removed from the Nov. 8 ballot, is accused of scratching a family member then punching her in the chest and neck during a September 2012 incident inside a home in the 10000 block of Grand Meadows.
The dispute was over a late pay check, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The district attorney's office issued a warrant for her arrest in January 2013, but Thompson was never taken into custody, according to Bexar County Clerk records.
A spokesperson for Thompson said Friday the state representative turned herself in after being "tipped off" that her arrest was imminent.
Clerk records indicate Thompson turned herself in at the courthouse satellite office Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
Thompson bonded out 41 minutes later, after formally being charged with family assault causing bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor.
Watch: Judge rules on District 120 state representative's place on ballot
Hours later she took part in a District 120 debate with her opponent, Democrat Barbara Gervin-Hawkins.
The Gervin-Hawkins campaign has not responded to repeated requests for comment from KSAT.
Thompson, through her spokesperson, issued the following statement Friday:
The individual who filed this complaint in 2012, is the same individual who perjured herself on the stand in the disputed ballot process. The democrats tried to use this individual to remove me from the ballot. It's ironic that three weeks before the election this warrant would be made active after four years of me not knowing there had been one. I have always done my best to support my family financially and emotionally and it is a shame that politics would divide a family. I will be exonerated of this charge. This individual making the charge has proven herself to be untrustworthy, as noted when she perjured herself on the stand in Austin.
However, there is no record that the warrant, filed January 10, 2013 and assigned to County Court 13, was ever made inactive.
During an interview with KSAT Friday afternoon, Thompson denied a physical altercation with the family member ever took place, but conceded she was forced to fire the family member.
"She came to San Antonio. I hired her and she went to sleep at work every day and wasn't really doing the work. So I had to let her go, and it didn't set well with her. So, I guess this is my pay back," said Thompson.
Thompson's attorney, Kenneth Bell, released the following statement:
Bell and White will be representing Representative Laura Thompson in the 2012 Assault Case. Representative Thompson recently became aware of the charge concerning the allegations and categorically denies that her actions predicate any guilt on her part. Representative Thompson is confident that her innocence will be proven as the matter progresses in our justice system. Representative Thompson asks for no special treatment, or favors, based on her position and does not expect to be treated any more leniently, nor more harshly, than any other citizen. We look forward to addressing this issue in Court.
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Thompson is scheduled to be arraigned November 14.