State Rep Tina Davis' Husband Charged With Housing Theft

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, PA — The husband of a Buck County state representative has been charged with stealing housing assistance money that was intended for a low-income tenant at a property he and his wife own.

James Foster Davis, 60, of Croydon, was arraigned in district court Tuesday on a charge of theft by deception and two other charges involving not making the funds available, according to court documents. Two of the counts are felonies and one is a misdemeanor.

Davis is married to state Rep. Tina Davis, a Democrat who represents part of Bucks County in the legislature's 141st district and is running for state senate. She has not been charged in the case.

The Intelligencer reports that James Davis is accused of deceiving the Bucks County Housing Authority. Investigators say he agreed in writing to pay all the utilities of a tenant who is on housing assistance, but actually required the woman to pay her own electric bill at the property in Croydon, the paper reports.

Landlords receive government subsidies for paying part or all of a tenant on assistance's utilities. Police say James Davis received more than $30,000 in housing-assistance payments from the county, according to the Intelligencer.

Rep. Tina Davis, who is running to unseat incumbent state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson in the November election, had not publicly commented on the charges as of Wednesday morning.

Jim Davis's attorney told the newspaper that Davis expects the case to be resolved quickly. He said his client has cooperated with the district attorney's office and has been told the case can be settled with a civil settlement.

A court hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 26.

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