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Zachary Anthony Klein
Authorities’ allegations and reported case history are preserved alongside source provenance.
TX-LUFKIN-KLEIN-2026-08-20
Zachary Anthony Klein
Angelina County prosecutors said Klein used Flock and other law-enforcement information systems for non-law-enforcement purposes to gather personal information about a former girlfriend, her family members, and people with whom she had relationships. The District Attorney said the investigation identified more than 25,000 instances of misuse; reporting described approximately 18,000 Flock searches involving three people.
3 linked sources
Last verified October 2, 2026
//Person
Name
Zachary Anthony Klein
Role title
Police Officer
Role type
Sworn law enforcement
Agency
Lufkin Police Department
City
Lufkin
County
Angelina
State
Texas
//Current status
Status
Convicted / Sentenced
Employment outcome
Former employee
Arrest date
August 20, 2026
Jail
Angelina County Jail
Case-status notes
UPDATE 2026-10-02. On Sept. 30, 2026, Klein pleaded guilty to 100 third-degree felony counts of Misuse of Official Information and was sentenced by the 159th District Court to five years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, with credit for 42 days served. Under the plea, the state agreed not to pursue stalking charges. Reporting says Klein agreed to a lifetime protective order involving his former girlfriend, with stalking as the underlying basis. The District Attorney said investigators identified more than 25,000 misuse instances; approximately 18,000 Flock searches involved three people from July 2024 through May 2026. The 25,000-plus figure may include other law-enforcement databases in addition to Flock.
//Alleged conduct and technology
Why this case is in the database
Angelina County prosecutors said Klein used Flock and other law-enforcement information systems for non-law-enforcement purposes to gather personal information about a former girlfriend, her family members, and people with whom she had relationships. The District Attorney said the investigation identified more than 25,000 instances of misuse; reporting described approximately 18,000 Flock searches involving three people.
Technology type
Other; reporting described approximately 18,000 Flock searches involving three people.; Automated License Plate Reader
Reported vendor
Flock Safety
Vendor note
Unknown
Reported product
Unknown
Misuse start
2024-07
Misuse end
2026-05
Known alleged search count
25,000+ reported misuse instances; approximately 18,000 Flock searches involving three people
Known duration
1.8 years
Family membersFormer romantic partnerMisuse of official informationNon-law-enforcement useRepeated personal searchStalking / tracking
//Discovery and investigation
Discovery method
Public information request / internal audit / Texas Rangers investigation
Investigating agency
Texas Rangers / Texas Department of Public Safety / Angelina County District Attorney's Office
Known charge count
100
Charges
100 counts Misuse of Official Information (third-degree felonies; pleaded guilty)
//Timeline
Charges updated
100 counts Misuse of Official Information (third-degree felonies; pleaded guilty)
No longer employed
UPDATE 2026-10-02. On Sept. 30, 2026, Klein pleaded guilty to 100 third-degree felony counts of Misuse of Official Information and was sentenced by the 159th District Court to five years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, with credit for 42 days served. Under the plea, the state agreed not to pursue stalking charges. Reporting says Klein agreed to a lifetime protective order involving his former girlfriend, with stalking as the underlying basis. The District Attorney said investigators identified more than 25,000 misuse instances; approximately 18,000 Flock searches involved three people from July 2024 through May 2026. The 25,000-plus figure may include other law-enforcement databases in addition to Flock.
Convicted
UPDATE 2026-10-02. On Sept. 30, 2026, Klein pleaded guilty to 100 third-degree felony counts of Misuse of Official Information and was sentenced by the 159th District Court to five years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, with credit for 42 days served. Under the plea, the state agreed not to pursue stalking charges. Reporting says Klein agreed to a lifetime protective order involving his former girlfriend, with stalking as the underlying basis. The District Attorney said investigators identified more than 25,000 misuse instances; approximately 18,000 Flock searches involved three people from July 2024 through May 2026. The 25,000-plus figure may include other law-enforcement databases in addition to Flock.
Charges updated
100 felony counts Misuse of Official Information; reporting also describes allegations involving Tampering with Governmental Records and Abuse of Official Capacity
Public information request / internal audit / Texas Rangers investigation
Grand jury indicted Klein on 100 felony counts. He was arrested Aug. 20 with total bail reported at $700,000. Lufkin PD suspended its Flock system and another officer was placed on leave. Aug. 26 affidavit reporting added that Klein allegedly searched his ex-girlfriend's plate more than 10,000 times.
Charges updated
100 counts Misuse of Official Information
Internal / criminal investigation
A grand jury indicted Klein on 100 felony counts on August 21, 2026. Lufkin police subsequently disabled the department's Flock system.
Administrative status pending
A grand jury indicted Klein on 100 felony counts on August 21, 2026. Lufkin police subsequently disabled the department's Flock system.
Indicted
A grand jury indicted Klein on 100 felony counts on August 21, 2026. Lufkin police subsequently disabled the department's Flock system.
Arrested / Charged
A grand jury indicted Klein on 100 felony counts on August 21, 2026. Lufkin police subsequently disabled the department's Flock system.
//Sources
News report citing arrest affidavit and court records
Lufkin officer accused of searching ex-girlfriend’s plates on Flock cameras more than 10,000 times
News report citing indictment and law enforcement