Breaking — July 10, 2026

Shiela Petta resigns from City of Wilmer amid internal corruption

Official portrait of former Wilmer Mayor Shiela Petta in a blue blazer with a pearl necklace, standing before an American flag
Former Mayor Shiela Petta — resigned July 10, 2026

Former Wilmer Mayor Shiela Petta stepped down from office on Friday, July 10, 2026 — just weeks after winning re-election to a two-year term in May. Her departure follows years of controversy, failed lawsuits, and a $1,090,000 taxpayer loss tied directly to her administration's actions.

Sheila Petta allegedly signed a severance package and approved the payout of remaining PTO for the human resources employee who was resigning from the Wilmer administration. The Human Resources employee allegedly wrote a $50,000+ check to herself the next day.

Full coverage: Ellis County Press →

Background
2008 & 2022 — Happened twice

Illegal annexation — a 14-year pattern

In 2008, the City of Wilmer attempted to illegally annex 25+ landowners with zero notice. Resident Carol Estes challenged it in court and won. Those who couldn't afford an attorney were absorbed anyway.

In 2022, under the same leadership — Jeff Steele and Michael Halla — the city tried again, this time targeting 150+ landowners. No letters were sent, no newspaper notice published, no attempt made to notify residents who had lived in Dallas County their entire lives. A whistleblower exposed the plan through Wilmer's own online meeting agenda. Some residents had as few as 48 hours to find an attorney. Elderly residents on private water wells were told they would be taxed by a city that provided them no services.

Robert Miklos (now at K&L Gates, 214-939-5500) appeared at city council on behalf of landowners and filed suit the same night.

Video — City council confronted over illegal annexation attempt
NBC DFW — News coverage of the Wilmer annexation
December 22, 2024 — Convicted

City attorney Michael Halla convicted of felony homicide

Former city attorney Michael Boice Halla was convicted on two counts of criminally negligent homicide (3rd-degree felony) in the 443rd Court of Ellis County. He was driving 93 mph and killed two civilians. Halla is now a registered felon and is no longer permitted to practice law in Texas.

Prior to his conviction, in September 2022 the State Bar of Texas publicly reprimanded him for attempting to share attorney fees with a non-attorney. He had been charged with manslaughter after allegedly driving 80+ mph on his way to a Ferris city council meeting. Despite the charges, the City of Wilmer continued to contract with him — a decision that may have further exposed taxpayers to liability.

Mugshot — Michael Boice Halla, Jan 2023
Mugshot of Michael Boice Halla taken January 2023 following manslaughter charges
Official court document — Conviction record
Michael Halla — 3rd Degree Felony Conviction Document (PDF)
December 11, 2023 — Lost

City officials sued a private citizen for defamation — and lost

Jeff Steele, Shiela Petta, Rona Stringfellow, Candi Madigral, and Michael Halla collectively sued Wilmer resident Heran Patel in his private capacity for defamation. Stringfellow and Madigral quietly dropped out before trial. On December 11, 2023, Judge Moye dismissed the case under the Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA). Jeff Steele and Shiela Petta now owe Patel $16,000 in attorney's fees.

Evidence — Settlement check signed by Jeff Steele
Settlement check written by Jeff Steele to Heran Patel for $16,000 after losing defamation lawsuit
Key figures
JS
Jeff Steele
Ex-Mayor & Council Member
  • City Council sued him for withholding meeting agendas; restraining order filed
  • Lost defamation suit vs. Heran Patel — owes $16,000 in attorney fees
  • Lost EDD RD RV Park case — contributed to $1.09M taxpayer loss
  • Linked to both 2008 and 2022 illegal annexation attempts
MH
Michael Halla
Ex-City Attorney — Now a Felon
  • Convicted Dec 2024 — 2 counts of 3rd-degree felony homicide (93 mph crash)
  • No longer licensed to practice law in Texas
  • State Bar publicly reprimanded Sept 2022 for improper fee-sharing
  • Lost EDD RD RV Park case; lost Heran Patel defamation case
  • Linked to both 2008 and 2022 illegal annexation attempts
SP
Shiela Petta
Ex-Mayor — Resigned July 2026
  • Resigned as mayor July 10, 2026 — two months into a newly won term
  • Lost defamation suit vs. Heran Patel — owes attorney fees
  • Lost EDD RD RV Park case — part of the scheme to block development
  • 5th District Court of Appeals ruling fully concluded against her
RS
Rona Stringfellow
Ex-City Administrator — Fired
  • Fired during the EDD RD RV Park proceedings
  • Dropped from Patel defamation suit before losing
  • Lost EDD RD RV Park case alongside other city officials
  • Previously paid $130K+/year by the city she helped steer into litigation
CC
Cherrel Charles
Ex-City Planner — Departed
  • Hired as part of Stringfellow's team from Lancaster
  • Has since left the City of Wilmer for another position
  • Was implicated in the effort to block EDD RD RV Park LLC's development
CM
Candi Madigral
Council Member
  • Joined the defamation suit against Heran Patel
  • Dropped out of the suit before the ruling
  • Part of the group that voted for actions leading to $1.09M in losses
Lawsuit tracker
Summary of lawsuits involving the City of Wilmer, including outcomes and years
Case Year Outcome
EDD RD RV Park LLC v. City of Wilmer — Illegal annexation; 5th District Court of Appeals affirmed 2022–2026 City lost — $1.09M
City of Wilmer et al. v. Heran Patel — Defamation suit dismissed under Texas TCPA 2023 City lost — $16K
T. Carroll Estes v. City of Wilmer — 2008 illegal annexation challenge 2008 City lost
Bill Wickliffe et al. v. City of Wilmer — 2022 illegal annexation (150+ landowners) 2022– Pending
Chris Bridges v. City of Wilmer et al. 2023– Pending
TK Real Properties Investments v. City of Wilmer 2023– Pending
USAR LLC et al. v. City of Wilmer 2023– Pending
On the record

Jeff Steele confronted over $16,000 owed to Heran Patel

After losing the defamation lawsuit, council member and ex-mayor Jeff Steele was publicly confronted about the $16,000 judgment against him. Watch his response below.

Captions available via YouTube's CC button. Contact us if you need an accessible transcript.

Ex-Mayor Jeff Steele belittles mobile home owners on camera

In this recording, ex-Mayor Jeff Steele makes a fool of himself by mocking and belittling mobile home owners in Wilmer — the very residents he was elected to serve.

Captions available via YouTube's CC button. Contact us if you need an accessible transcript.

"I do it for the people."

Wilmer taxpayers deserve to know where their money goes. If you have tips, documents, or information about city misconduct, reach out.

contact@wilmernews.com