Montgomery County deputy charged after fatal crash

Montgomery County deputy James Francis has been indicted and terminated after a crash in February 2024 that killed his partner, Deputy Charles Rivette. The accident occurred while the deputies were transporting a prisoner from Oklahoma on Interstate 45, north of Houston. A grand jury found that Francis "failed to control speed" when he crashed into an 18-wheeler. This collision caused his SUV to roll over, resulting in Rivette being thrown from the vehicle and hit by another car. The crash involved a total of five vehicles. The speed limit in the area was 75 miles per hour, but the report did not specify how fast Francis was driving. It also noted that he was not tested for drugs or alcohol after the crash, a common practice in fatal incidents. At the time of the investigation, Francis was off-duty and on workers' compensation. After the grand jury's decision, he was indicted, fired from the sheriff's office, and arrested. Sheriff Wesley Doolittle expressed deep sorrow over Rivette's death and emphasized the need for accountability. He also acknowledged the impact of the incident on the entire community.