Medical City Plano publicly honored Texas-licensed paramedic Ashley Elyse Traister for her work in the hospital’s Medical Communications department on March 31, 2026—the same day a felony indictment against her was filed in Collin County. Traister, 44, was indicted on a charge of exploitation of a child, elderly individual or disabled individual. The case was filed in the 366th District Court approximately five weeks after her arrest. The third-degree felony charge remains pending.

The alleged offense did not occur on the date Traister was honored or indicted. Court records list Dec. 19, 2019, as the alleged offense date, while correspondence connected to the investigation references a Plano Police Department case number beginning with 2024. Traister was arrested in February 2026 and released after posting bond. The March 31 hospital recognition therefore came after her arrest and on the same date her indictment was entered into the court record.

Nothing reviewed by The Hawk’s Eye establishes whether Medical City Plano knew of Traister’s arrest when it published the award announcement. The records also do not show whether the hospital was aware that a grand jury had indicted her or that the case was being filed that day.

Medical City Plano Praised Her Work With EMS Agencies

Medical City Plano congratulated Traister for receiving an “ALWAYS Colleague Award” for her work in Medical Communications, also known as Med-Com. A photograph accompanying the March 31 post showed Traister holding the award while standing with four other people in front of a Medical City Plano backdrop. The hospital described Med-Com as a department whose full scope might not be recognized even by some people working inside the facility. It praised Traister for helping ensure the department’s presence and impact were felt throughout Medical City Plano.

The nomination credited Traister with maintaining protocols and licensure while providing thoughtful feedback and continuing support to the agencies served by Med-Com. It said much of her work occurred behind the scenes and could easily go unnoticed. The nomination described Traister as consistently available to hospital employees and outside agencies and said she approached challenges with patience and dedication. Her commitment, reliability and care were called a foundation of the department’s strength.

“The truth is the department would not function the way it does without her,” the nomination stated. It also said Traister frequently knew the right person to contact to move an issue forward. Medical City Plano thanked her for exemplifying its “ALWAYS values” and said it was proud to have her as part of its family. The public praise appeared on the hospital’s social media page while Traister’s criminal case was moving from an arrest to a formal felony prosecution.

Traister Says Case Followed Dispute Over Father’s Will

In state records obtained and reviewed by The Hawk’s Eye, Traister connected the criminal investigation to a dispute involving her father’s will. She said her half-sister discovered that the will’s distribution had been changed from a 75%, 12.5% and 12.5% allocation to an equal division among their father’s three daughters. Traister did not identify who allegedly changed the will or explain what prosecutors contend she did in connection with the estate. Her statement represents her account of the circumstances, and the claims contained in it have not been established as fact in court.

According to the state records, Traister said she received a letter dated Jan. 12, 2026, from a Plano police detective advising that she might have information relevant to a case under investigation. The letter asked her to contact the detective so the matter could be resolved. Traister said she attempted to respond using the email address provided but received delivery-failure messages stating that the recipient’s address had been rejected. Copies of the emails and failure notices contained in the records support her statement that the messages were not delivered.

Police Attempted to Serve Arrest Warrant

According to Traister, a detective issued what she described as an “in-hand warrant” on Feb. 17, 2026. She said officers attempted to serve the warrant at her Plano residence while she was not home. Traister stated that her attorney contacted the Plano Police Department and advised officers that she would voluntarily surrender after the warrant was entered and could be verified. She said she later surrendered to the Collin County Sheriff’s Office under the arrangement communicated by her attorney.

Collin County jail records show Traister was booked on the exploitation charge and released Feb. 21, 2026. Her bond was set at $50,000, and the records show she secured her release through a surety bond on the same date. 

A Collin County grand jury subsequently returned an indictment, and the felony case was filed March 31. The case is assigned to District Judge Tom Nowak in the 366th District Court. 

State Paramedic License Remains Active

Traister holds a certified emergency medical technician-paramedic license issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services. The state’s licensing database listed the certification as current and active when it was reviewed July 21, 2026. Her license has an effective rank date of March 24, 2016, and an expiration date of March 31, 2028. No disciplinary action was displayed on the publicly available licensing record.

Indictment Does Not Establish Guilt

Under Section 32.53 of the Texas Penal Code, exploitation generally involves the illegal or improper use of a child, elderly individual or disabled individual—or that person’s resources—for monetary or personal benefit, profit or gain. A person can commit the offense by acting intentionally, knowingly or recklessly. The court docket classifies the charge against Traister as a third-degree felony.

An indictment is a formal accusation based on a grand jury’s probable-cause determination, not a finding of guilt. Prosecutors must still prove the allegation beyond a reasonable doubt if the case proceeds to trial.

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