MCSO: Montgomery Co. deputy arrested in connection with wreck that killed his partner

HOUSTON — A Montgomery County deputy who was behind the wheel in a crash that left a fellow deputy dead has been indicted by a grand jury, according to the sheriff’s office. He’s also been fired.

Back on February 21, 2024, Deputy James Francis and Deputy Charles Rivette were transporting an inmate from Oklahoma to Montgomery County. Their patrol vehicle was involved in a five-vehicle wreck five miles south of Buffalo. 

According to investigators with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Francis was driving south on I-45 when he crashed into a truck. Rivette, who was in the passenger’s seat, was ejected and landed in the northbound lanes, where he was hit by a truck and died. Two 18-wheelers then hit the Montgomery County patrol vehicle. Francis and the inmate injured and taken to the hospital.  

In a release sent out Thursday night, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said that Francis was arrested and fired.

“The loss of Deputy Rivette is deeply felt by all who knew and served alongside him, and the events that followed have only added to the sorrow,” Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle said. “We stand firm in our responsibility to ensure accountability while also recognizing the gravity of this moment for everyone involved. Our thoughts are also with the individual who sustained life-altering injuries in this incident. In times like these, we must support one another, honor those we have lost, and remain steadfast in our commitment to justice and integrity.”

Credit: Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

Deputy Charles Rivette

The sheriff’s office said that they’ll continue to cooperate in the investigation.  They also said they would not be releasing any more information about the case and that any other details would come from the Texas DPS and Leon County Sheriff’s Office.

Rivette was an 18-year veteran of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Francis was with MCSO for 14 years.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said at the time that it was the agency’s first line-of-duty death since 1876.

We’re working to learn more about what the charge is.