The breakdown
After ongoing public comment for more than a month, council members added the no-confidence vote at the conclusion of the July 14 meeting. The vote was called when Bauer was arrested on felony charges of embezzlement after she was accused of stealing from two youth sports organizations in Roanoke.
Bauer was not present at the meeting and used Zoom to participate. During the vote, five council members voted in favor of the no-confidence vote, while Jeff Beach and Bauer were the no votes.
“In Trophy Club, we are committed to integrity, resilience and a community spirit,” Mayor Jeannette Tiffany said following the vote. “Our dedication to protecting and nurturing Trophy Club ensures it remains a great place to call home, and this vote of no confidence is about integrity and trust.”
According to Trophy Club's town charter, if a council member is found guilty of a felony, they will be terminated from their position.
Current situation
Bauer and her attorney, Blakley Mohr, appeared in the Denton County court July 25. Her Southlake-based attorney applied for subpoenas from the Denton County Sheriff’s Office, Roanoke Police Department and Trophy Club Police Department. A second batch of subpoenas will be submitted for the banks that had financial dealings with the youth organizations.
“We're still proceeding as if she's innocent; she's presumed innocent,” Mohr said July 29.
He added that Bauer plans to run for re-election in the spring.
The next court date is Aug. 29, according to county documents.
How we got here
An arrest warrant was issued from a May 8 indictment against Bauer, who has been the Place 1 council member since 2023, winning a race for an open spot that spring.
Bauer was arrested June 4 and Shawn Cagle from City Hall Bail Bond in Denton posted a $5,000 surety bond June 5 to allow Bauer to leave jail, according to previous reporting.
Information provided by the Denton County District Clerk said Bauer was the president and treasurer of the Bobcat Youth Football Organization and president of the Bobcat Youth Track and Field Association in Roanoke. She is alleged to have embezzled up to $150,000 in funds and equipment from 2021 to 2023.
The Bobcat Youth Football Organization uses fields on campus of numerous Northwest ISD schools, according to its website.
The arrest came less than a month after a civil case against Bauer, brought by Bobcat Youth Football Organization, Inc., was dismissed with prejudice.
Also of note
Council member Dennis Sheridan questioned town attorney Dean Roggio if there is a conviction but it is not a felony, if the town had any recourse.
Roggio said it depends on a plea deal, but added if people are being subpoenaed, the case is not a done deal.
The town charter states officials would have to call for a special election to fill a vacated seat within 120 days of the vacancy. As of the July 28 meeting, there were only 99 days between this meeting and the November general election.
What else?
Mohr said that no plea agreement has been reached on the case, despite comments made during public comment at the meeting.
A document filed June 24 shows the district attorney would recommend the following plea: $1,000 fine, 10 year deferred sentence and restitution. Mohr said that was put on her bond paperwork to advance the case and get a court date set.
