Jun 10, 2015 2 min read

A Houston man is suing state dog warden John Sheldon, Houston police Officer Josh Withers and District Judge David Mark, claiming he was wrongfully cited in connection with a dog he does not own.

William A. Lee, of 722 Champion Drive, filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Washington County Court. Lee claims he was wrongfully cited July 12, 2013, for failing to keep a dog under control or confined and failing to keep the dog’s rabies vaccination up to date. At the time of the citation by Sheldon, Lee said he informed all parties involved he was not the owner of the dog, according to court documents. He said he was still fined more than $900 and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $116.

On Sept. 14, 2013, Lee claims he was again fined when Sheldon contacted him to inform him he had Lee’s dog. Lee said he told Sheldon it was not his dog in their possession, but instead his neighbor’s dog. The neighbor was not identified in the lawsuit. Lee claims he was again cited for failing to keep a dog confined or under control, failing to keep the dog’s rabies vaccination up to date and failing to keep the dog licensed. He was fined more than $1,000 and ordered to pay $1,200 in restitution.

Lee said the charges caused “undue emotional distress.”

“I had to use my savings to pay the restitution costs, and by being unemployed, my bills are still overdue,” Lee said in the lawsuit.

Lee is seeking $15,000 in damages from Sheldon, $10,000 in damages from Withers and $15,000 in damages from Mark. He also is seeking restitution for fees accrued, including fees previously paid and possible attorney fees.

Lee did not return calls for comment. Sheldon and Withers could not be reached for comment, and Mark said Wednesday he had not yet been served, and declined comment.