TYLER (TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - Smith County Precinct 3 Constable Dustin Rust resigned from office today effective immediately.
Rust recently finished last among four candidates in his bid to keep his constable seat. He also faces criminal charges that he illegally operated a security company.
The Smith County Commissioners Court will deal with the issue when they meet at 9:30 Tuesday morning at the Smith County Courthouse Annex.
Commissioner Cary Nix says the court will consider appointing Jim Blackmon, a Bullard police officer, to the position.
Blackmon won the Republican primary for the seat he does not face a Democratic challenger was to take office on Jan. 1.
Rust told the Tyler Morning Telegraph that he has every intention of remaining in law enforcement and is right now considering taking a job with another law enforcement agency.
Following an investigation by the Texas Rangers and the DPS Rust was indicted on one count of abuse of official capacity, one count of theft by a public servant and 10 counts of operating a security company without a license.
Rust denies any wrongdoing and none of these cases have gone to trial.
To find out what Rust had to say about Smith County politics, see Adam Russell's story in Tuesday's Tyler Paper.
