Former Flatonia Police Chief Gets Probation for Stolen Gun

Former Flatonia Police Chief Mike Noak pleaded guilty to theft by a public servant in Fayette County Court last week. 

Noak’s criminal case stems from a gun that was collected as evidence in a Flatonia suicide. That gun was later found to be missing from police evidence after Noak resigned as police chief at the end of last year.

A team of law enforcement including Texas Ranger Brent Barina raided Noak’s home in the 400 block of South Mill Street in Flatonia on June 5. During the raid officers found the gun, a Titan .25 caliber pistol. Officers also seized a Microsoft computer tablet and number Flatonia Police uniforms, according to the search warrant inventory report. A Fayette County Grand Jury indicted Noak on Sept. 21 for theft of a firearm by a public servant, a third degree felony, which carries a sentence of two to ten years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

Last Wednesday, Nov. 1, Noak entered a plea of guilty to a lesser charge of theft by a public servant between $100 and $750, a class A misdemeanor. Noak received deferred adjudication for the felony charge. District Judge Jeff Steinhauser sentenced Noak to four years of probation and a $1,000 fine. Noak’s peace officer license will also be suspended. Schulenburg attorney Katrina Packard represented Noak.

Noak was the third Flatonia government official in as many years to plead guilty to criminal wrongdoing. Former Pct. 3 Commissioner James Kubecka pleaded guilty April 2015 to stealing tires from the county. Steinhauser sentenced Kubecka to four years of probation and required him to pay nearly $3,000 in restitution. Former Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Tommy Tipton served 60 days in jail earlier this year after pleading guilty to his part in a multi-state lottery rigging scheme involving his brother Eddie Tipton.