Texas Police Chief Accused Of Faking Marriage Annulment

Jason Collier was arrested by Texas Rangers Thursday after a woman who was engaged to Collier says she learned he was married and had presented her with a fraudulent marriage annulment. KAMR's Kaley Green reports.

(KAMR/NBC News) — A Texas police chief has resigned and is facing charges after allegedly presenting his fiance with a fraudulent marriage annulment certificate after she began to suspect he was still married.

Former Stinnett Police Chief Jason Collier was arrested Thursday after being placed on administrative leave Wednesday. The City of Stinnett Facebook page confirmed Collier has resigned.

Hutchinson County Sheriff Blaik Kemp said Collier was arrested by the Texas Rangers and taken to the Hutchinson County Jail.

Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Cindy Barkley said on Tuesday the Hutchinson County District Attorney’s office asked the Texas Rangers to conduct a criminal investigation into Collier.

“Collier allegedly sent a text message to the victim with a fraudulent government record attached. The document was a fraudulent marriage annulment,” Sgt. Barkley said.

On Tuesday, Cecily Steinmetz posted to Facebook saying she was engaged to Collier before she learned he was married.

When asked what she hoped to accomplish by posting about Collier, Steinmetz said she wanted to raise awareness locally and for Collier to be held accountable.

“I would just hope that he has learned his lesson, not to deceive people like that. I was also apt to believe him about everything due to his position. I mean, I would think that that would be a very upstanding person, and a very honest person. And that is how he presented himself. And I would just hope that this doesn’t happen to any other women in the future,” Steinmetz said.

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