Three elected officials from Hawk Cove were booked into the Hunt County Jail on Thursday, November 21, 2024, after turning themselves in to authorities. The officials, who face charges related to violating the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA), are Rebecca Lea Bernardi, 59, a council member from Quinlan; Mark Allen Beatte, from Hawk Cove, a council member; and Delores Viola Marlow Spence, 65, the Mayor of Hawk Cove, also from Quinlan.
The charges against the three include violations of the Closed Meeting Act and conspiring to circumvent secret deliberations. Their bonds were set at $50,000 each. The charges stem from a sealed indictment secured by the State Attorney General’s Office.
The arrests followed civil notifications served on the trio after a petition for removal was filed by former Hawk Cove Mayor Darren Evans and former council member Amanda Bodiford. The petition alleged that the officials had engaged in unlawful closed meetings, violating the principles of the Texas Open Meetings Act, which mandates that government bodies conduct official business openly and transparently.
The Texas Open Meetings Act was established in 1967 to ensure transparency in governmental operations. It limits closed meetings to deliberations only, with no formal votes or actions allowed, and requires proper notice of such meetings. Violating these provisions can result in misdemeanor charges and fines, as well as possible jail time.
