Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Posted on 05/17/2005 2:15:47 PM PDT by Racehorse
PAMPA, Texas — A former West Texas district attorney awaiting sentencing on a federal drug-related weapons charge was indicted Tuesday on state charges alleging he intended to sell methamphetamine and cocaine.
The indictment against Rick Roach stems from his Jan. 11 arrest at the Gray County Courthouse in Pampa where federal agents found two guns in his briefcase. The indictment alleges he had methamphetamine and cocaine with him that day and that he intended to sell the drugs.
Each charge carries a sentence of 10 to 99 years or life in prison.
Roach, who ran on a tough-on-drugs campaign in 2000 and was 11 days into his second term at the time of his arrest on federal charges, declined to comment Tuesday. His attorney, Bill Kelly, didn't return a message seeking comment.
Special prosecutor David Scott, appointed to investigate Roach and the office on state charges, said Roach's term as district attorney for five Panhandle counties is still being reviewed.
[. . .]
In federal affidavits, officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety told the FBI they suspected Roach was converting seized money for personal use and that he was "obsessed" with money seizures. Roach even asked a DPS lieutenant to order his troopers to focus on westbound Interstate 40 traffic, commonly known to be the direction of drug money, the affidavits state.
The affidavit claims Roach was "very secretive" about seized money and the accounts.
(Excerpt) Read more at statesman.com ...
"I just sort of, you might say, went nuts: I made irrational and wrong decisions," he told the newspaper. "There's no excuse. I've gotten what I deserve."
What a pickle.
Ping!
I grew up in Pampa. His parents are top notice people. He really blew it.
A drug enforcer named Rick "Roach"?
That should have been a warning sign right there.
Not to mention his assistants - Bubba Doobie, Marvin Bong, and Priscilla Munchies.
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
You give police departments financial incentive to seize cash and property from the citizenry, and the departments focus disproportionately on those cases (as opposed to cases without financial incentives such as murder, assualt and rape). Then, the people doing the seizing sometimes steal the cash.
Who'da thunk it.
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