Plea Deal Accepted in Rust Case

TYLER � Judge Jack Skeen has accepted a plea deal proposed by Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham in the case against former Smith County Precinct 3 Constable Dustin Rust. Skeen had first ordered the case to go to trial, and that trial was set to begin Wednesday. According to KETK, Rust pleads guilty to operating a security company without a license, which is a class A misdemeanor. Rust must pay $7,698 in restitution, and will be under 2 years of probation. He will not receive any jail time. The felony charge against him has been dropped.

Controversy has swirled around Rust ever since he was indicted for misuse of county property in April 2012. He is accused of using his deputies for a private security detail in Smith County neighborhoods.