A former Smith County constable chief deputy was sentenced to 18 months’ probation after pleading guilty Thursday morning in connection with stealing while serving an eviction notice alongside former Pct. 1 Constable Curtis Traylor-Harris.
LaQuenda Banks, who was a Smith County Pct. 1 Constable’s Office chief deputy, entered a guilty plea in the 241st District Court after she previously testified during Traylor-Harris’ trial in December 2022. The 18-month probation sentence was then handed down.
Banks, Traylor-Harris and former Smith County Pct. 1 Sgt. Derrick Holman were arrested in November 2021 on official oppression and property theft by a public servant charges for accusations of stealing items from a Tyler home in late January 2021 while issuing an eviction.
Traylor-Harris was convicted on a theft by a public servant charge and sentenced to five years’ probation in December. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. If he breaks that probation, he would go to a state jail facility for two years.
In August, Holman was found not guilty of the same theft charge during a trial. Banks also testified in Holman’s trial.
Banks’ attorney Brett Harrison said on Thursday she received probation for the official oppression charge, which is a misdemeanor, and the prosecution agreed to drop the felony theft by a public servant charge through the guilty plea.
Harrison said Banks received no deals prior to or in exchange for her testimony in both Holman and Traylor-Harris’ trials.
“She is obviously remorseful for her actions,” Harrison said.
Arrest documents said Banks’ body camera footage, which was turned on accidentally, showed Traylor-Harris, Holman and Banks stealing from a home during an eviction.
The stolen items included watches, ammunition, cash, Oakley sunglasses, Ray-Ban sunglasses, makeup and a safe containing antique coins, quarter collection, military medals, a diploma, a birth certificate and a social security card, the affidavit read.
During her testimony at Traylor-Harris’ trial, Banks said on the stand she felt “forced” to take the items and if she didn’t do it, she would’ve gotten fired.
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