(Houston, February 3, 2026) – A former houston-area attorney accused of stealing client settlement funds was arrested last month on an outstanding warrant from Nevada, highlighting a pattern of alleged financial misconduct.
David Lee Pettus was arrested January 12 by the Bayou Vista Police Department, KPRC 2 News confirmed. He had been wanted in Clark County, Nevada, for gambling debts.
- david Lee pettus, a former attorney, was arrested in Texas on a Nevada warrant related to gambling debts.
- Pettus allegedly owes former clients tens of thousands of dollars in stolen settlement funds.
- The State Bar of Texas accepted Pettus’ resignation in September 2024 amid 24 active investigations of professional misconduct.
- Despite multiple civil judgments against him and a dismissed bankruptcy filing, Pettus has not faced criminal charges related to his clients’ funds.
Pettus was taken to the Galveston County Jail and released two days later after entering into an agreement wiht Clark County prosecutors to make regular payments on the debt, a spokesperson for the Clark County District Attorney’s Office said. The Galveston County Jail confirmed the warrant was recalled on January 14.
The arrest comes after KPRC 2 News frist reported in January 2024 on allegations that Pettus “ghosted” clients after being hired and then stole their personal injury settlement money. At least five victims have publicly shared their stories.
Background and Context
Pettus’ legal troubles extend beyond the Nevada debt and allegations of theft from clients. In September 2024, the Supreme Court of Texas accepted his resignation, barring him from practicing law in the state “in the best interest of the public and the profession.” At the time, the State Bar of Texas had 24 active investigations into his professional conduct, records show.
Court records indicate Pettus has been found liable in several civil cases filed by former clients seeking to recover funds. He has failed to appear or respond in court in those cases.Pettus, in a statement to KPRC 2 News in September 2024, claimed he was unable to fight the Bar’s investigations due to financial constraints, stating, “I just don’t have the hundreds of thousands of dollars that it will take to fight the Bar. I wish that I coudl, but as I can’t I felt at this stage of my long career, the best thing to do was resign my license to save me and my family from bankruptcy.”
However, Pettus filed for bankruptcy in May 2025, listing more than $8.5 million in debts to banks and clients who had obtained default judgments against him,according to federal court records. A bank’s motion to dismiss the bankruptcy filing argued that Pettus filed “in bad faith and for non-economic motives,” attempting to avoid foreclosure on his home on Tiki Island.
The court granted the motion to dismiss, preventing Pettus from refiling for bankruptcy until mid-April, records show.
Why It Matters
The case of David Lee Pettus underscores the vulnerability of individuals relying on legal representation, particularly in personal injury cases. While Pettus faces financial consequences for his gambling debts, victims who allege he stole their settlements remain without full recourse. Despite sharing documentation with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, they have yet to see criminal charges filed. This situation raises questions about the speed and effectiveness of legal remedies for victims of alleged attorney misconduct and the challenges in prosecuting such cases.
“He was taken to jail without incident,” said Bayou Vista Police Department Cpl. J. Proffitt, explaining that a traffic stop for a defective headlight revealed the outstanding Nevada warrant.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by KPRC 2 News and added self-reliant analysis and context.
