Dewhurst ex-girlfriend’s assault case is dropped
A Harris County grand jury this month declined to indict a woman accused of attacking former Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst during a reported domestic violence incident at their apartment, according to court records.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office in May filed charges against Leslie Caron, 41, who prosecutors said had injured Dewhurst on two occasions after verbal arguments escalated to physical violence.
The grand jury chose not to indict Caron on Oct. 15, dropping the case. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office does not usually comment on grand jury decisions.
Elizabeth Exley, Caron’s attorney, said she was glad the grand jury reviewed the totality of the circumstances in the case.
“She is relieved to be able to put this experience behind her,” Caron said.
Dewhurst and Caron, who had been dating a year at the time, were at their apartment near River Oaks when Caron first got mad at the former lawmaker, authorities wrote in court records. Prosecutors said Caron kicked Dewhurst, now 75, in the rib cage while he sat on the couch.
She left the residence and returned days later, when another argument ensued, prosecutors said. Caron then threw a pot at Dewhurst and kicked, struck,
scratched and bit him, according to probable cause documents.
Dewhurst had two fractured ribs, court records show.
Caron denied assaulting her boyfriend and instead said he got injured while working outside, prosecutors said. The professional fundraiser later accused Dewhurst of assaulting her on a previous occasion, which didn’t appear to line
up but was set to be looked into as part of the case, authorities said.
Caron posted a $10,000 surety bond in May after being charged with injury to an elderly person, a thirddegree felony.
Dewhurst, who served as Texas’ lieutenant governor from 2003 to 2015, issued a statement after Caron’s arrest, saying he wasn’t interested in filing any charges against her.