Former Cordell city councilman Joseph Boecker, who lost his 2019 election bid for one of the city’s Ward 3 seats, was charged late last month with three misdemeanor crimes following a hit-and-run incident in Cordell in January. The charges include leaving the scene of an accident involving damage, failure to maintain insurance or security, and failure to pay taxes due to the state - all misdemeanors.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Officer Trenton Maisano of the Cordell Police Department, the charges stem back to an incident of Jan. 4, 2020, in which Boecker allegedly crashed a white Dodge Durango into a Buick RPR, driven by Cathleen White.
Maisano, according to the affidavit, was dispatched to the intersection of Middle and South streets in Cordell at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2020. Upon arriving at the scene, Maisano noted the Buick was south of the intersection with the rear end in a ditch and the front pointed out onto the roadway. Maisano checked on the driver, obtained her information, and photographed the damage to the vehicle.
A nearby witness told Maisano White’s vehicle had been struck by a white SUV being driven by “a man with a scruffy face and a plaid shirt.” Further investigation pointed Maisano to Boecker, whose residence was along the last reported path of the SUV.
Maisano decided to make contact with Boecker and drove to his residence at the corner of Caddo and Orient streets.
“I was traveling westbound on Caddo and noticed a white SUV parked in the backyard behind the fence and up against a shop/garage as if in an attempt to hide it. I walked up to the vehicle and noticed it was a white Dodge Durango and looked similar to the SUV I saw on camera. I noticed there was damage to the grill.”
Maisano then activated his body camera and knocked on the door to interview Boecker about the incident. He wrote in the affidavit that Boecker admitted to the accident and told Maisano “he did not know what to do and panicked and kept driving.”
Maisano issued citations for failing to yield right of way, leaving the scene of an accident, and failure to maintain financial responsibility.
Later, on Feb. 28, 2020, the Washita County District Attorney’s Office filed the misdemeanor charges.
If convicted, Boecker could be sentenced to up to one year imprisonment for the leaving the scene of an accident charge, up to 30 days for the failure to maintain insurance or security charge, and a fine of up to $500 for failure to pay taxes due to the state.