Matthew "Todd" Eddington

HAWKINS — A Hawkins man known for criticizing public officials has been charged with two counts of obstruction or retaliation, reportedly for posting city officials’ phone numbers on his Facebook page.

Matthew “Todd” Eddington, an outspoken Hawkins resident, turned himself in Friday at the Wood County Jail and was released the same day on two $10,000 bonds. Both counts of obstruction and retaliation are felonies.

Eddington operates a Facebook page called “The Crooked Wood County Justice System Part III,” where he frequently posts criticisms of public officials and discusses political happenings in Hawkins. Eddington said he was charged for posting the phone numbers of Hawkins Place 3 Alderman Eric Maloy and Hawkins Place 4 Alderwoman Eleta Taylor on his Facebook page.

Under Texas law, a person commits a crime by posting the phone number or home address of an elected official if the person did so with the intent to cause the person harm in retaliation for his or her public service.

Eddington told the News-Journal he posted the phone numbers of Taylor and Maloy so that their constituents could contact them. He said his actions are “completely legal.”

“I got arrested on two charges for (expletive) that ain’t even a crime,” Eddington said.

The News-Journal was unable to verify the reasons for Eddington’s charges because the Hawkins Police Department has refused to provide the affidavits of probable cause used to obtain warrants for his arrest.

Lt. Eric Tuma said in an email that the documents are part of an open and active investigation, and the city does not have an attorney to evaluate a records request.

However, the department’s assertion appears to go against normal practices and state law. Two Texas attorney general opinions clarify that affidavits are public records.

James Hemphill, an attorney with the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, told the News-Journal that he could not opine on this specific situation but that probable cause affidavits generally must be released under the Texas Public Information Act.

The charges against Eddington were significant topics of discussion during a heated Tuesday City Council meeting in which the council voted to keep its police department in operation. Police executed a search warrant on Eddington’s home that day and seized his computer, flash drives and other pieces of technology. Eddington purchased another computer, however, and resumed posting information on his Facebook page.

Taylor told the News-Journal said she believes Eddington posted her phone number “to cause harm.”

“I’m not trying to make trouble for somebody, but at the same time, I need to protect myself,” Taylor said. “My information wasn’t public. Period. And it wasn’t to be shared on a social media platform or Facebook. As a councilwoman, I am willing to give someone my phone number, but I want to know who is getting it.”

Taylor acknowledged that she had posted her phone number on Facebook for business purposes years ago, but that took place prior to her service on the council. She said constituents who need to speak with her can call Hawkins City Hall, and she will call them back.

Maloy said Friday that he was sad that Eddington was arrested but that he needed to be held accountable for his actions. Maloy said he has asked Eddington numerous times to quit making unprofessional posts on Facebook.

“Everyone knows the law, and everyone knows what can happen to you if you break the law,” Maloy said.

Maloy’s phone numbers are posted on the Hawkins Chamber of Commerce’s website.

Eddington has been in news headlines since November, when he and Hawkins police officer David “Dave” Morris had a physical altercation during a council meeting. Neither was arrested or charged in connection with that incident.