Felony stalking case against ex-fire union leader Christopher Steele dismissed involving San Antonio Fire Chief Valerie Frausto

Case dismissed after appellate ruling reshaped how certain communication-based offenses can be prosecuted

A felony stalking case filed against Christopher Allen Steele, a former president of the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association and a retired San Antonio Fire Department battalion chief, has been dismissed in Bexar County court records. The case involved allegations that Steele targeted Valerie Frausto, who later became San Antonio’s fire chief.

The dismissal was entered Jan. 21, 2026, at the request of the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, following legal developments that prosecutors said affected their ability to proceed.

Allegations centered on messages sent during the 2024 fire chief search

The criminal investigation stemmed from a series of texts and emails sent to Frausto in March 2024 while the city was preparing to fill the fire chief position. At that time, Frausto held a command-level role and was part of the department’s leadership structure; she was later selected to lead the department and was confirmed by San Antonio City Council on Oct. 31, 2024, with her start date set for Nov. 1, 2024.

Investigators alleged the sender claimed to be an “independent investigator” and used the name “Frank.” Messages described “concerning allegations” about Frausto and warned that information could be made public if she pursued the top job. Frausto reported feeling intimidated and threatened, and she contacted city officials and police.

City legal staff issued a cease-and-desist demand in mid-March 2024 after determining the city had not retained anyone to conduct background checks and after questions arose about an email address that appeared to suggest an affiliation with a background-check company.

• Frausto received multiple communications from different email addresses and phone numbers in March 2024.
• Messages included deadlines for a response and references to draft “news release” language that would be distributed.
• Police later alleged the communications were intended to pressure Frausto not to apply for the chief position.

Arrest, indictment, and dismissal timeline

Steele was arrested in May 2024. He was indicted in December 2024. The case was later dismissed in January 2026.

How a higher-court decision factored into the dismissal

Prosecutors cited a 2025 decision by Texas’ highest criminal court addressing constitutional limits in prosecutions built around electronic communications. In explaining the dismissal request, prosecutors indicated the ruling clarified that while certain conduct can be criminalized, the content of communications may be protected speech under the First Amendment, depending on how charges are brought and what evidence is available.

Frausto publicly described the dismissal as “unfortunate” and said she believed the conduct met the definition of stalking, adding that she wanted the case to proceed.

Frausto ultimately took the top job at the department despite the messages. The dismissal ends the felony case against Steele, but it does not resolve the broader workplace and political tensions that surrounded the leadership transition period at the fire department and the union’s long-running role in city labor and governance disputes.