Uhland Mayor arrested on a 2nd degree felony charge

By Anthony Collins

LPR Editor                            

    The mayor of Uhland, Lacee Duke, was arrested Wednesday, December 3, 2025 after a Caldwell County grand jury indicted her on a felony charge of misapplication of fiduciary property, according to state records, county officials, and multiple sources familiar with the case.

   The indictment, issued the same day Duke was taken into custody, accuses the 38-year-old mayor of misapplying fiduciary property valued between $150,000 and $300,000, Caldwell County District Attorney Fred Weber said in a news release. Under Texas law, that amount elevates the charge to a second-degree felony, which carries a possible sentence of two to 20 years in prison.

   As of Tuesday, officials confirmed that Duke has been released from the Caldwell County Jail on Thursday December 4th, where her bond had been set at $20,000. Authorities have not disclosed the nature of the allegations, and no information has been released regarding legal representation for the mayor.

   Shortly after Duke’s arrest, the City of Uhland released an official statement acknowledging the situation and confirming that the case is being handled by state authorities:

   “The City of Uhland confirms that on December 03, 2025, Mayor Lacee Duke was arrested and booked into the Caldwell County Jail on a charge of Misapplication of Fiduciary Property. The investigation is being handled by the Texas Department of Public Safety. We take this matter seriously and are closely monitoring the situation. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not be commenting on the details of the investigation. The City respects the legal process and the presumption of innocence guaranteed to every individual.  At this time, Mayor Duke continues to serve in office unless and until any action is taken in accordance with Texas law. The city will provide updates to the public if additional information becomes available and can be released. The City is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability, and we will cooperate fully with the authorities. The safety and well-being of our employees, residents, and community remain our top priority.”

   The Texas Department of Public Safety is leading the investigation. Officials have not released details regarding what Duke is alleged to have done or how the financial misapplication was detected.

   City leaders emphasized that Duke would remain in office unless state law dictates otherwise or formal action is taken.

   Legal proceedings are expected to begin in the coming weeks, pending further information from investigators and the district attorney’s office.

    The City of Uhland has stated it will issue public updates when appropriate.

This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.