Last week, over in Houston, a state district court judge (read that, trial judge) who’s still pretty new to the job, ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional. This got lots and lots and LOTS of media coverage. This week, Judge Kevin Fine changed his mind. He’s rescinded that ruling and he’s set the matter…
It all started when a pawn shop over in Humble, Texas, was subjected to a search by the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. ATF had a warrant, and they took possession of 112 guns that — come to find out — were last seen in the evidence locker of a Texas police department. How’d they…
Of course, the big news today when you’re talking Governor Rick Perry is that he’s just won the Republican Primary without the need of a runoff. Guess that makes sense. Finally, Tim Cole is Pardoned However, on Monday something else happened. Governor Perry signed the pardon of Timothy Cole, the first person in the State…
After serving three years as a Mineral Wells police officer, John Gore’s life has taken a drastic turn: he’s now a criminal defendant, facing two counts of arson and one count of arson causing bodily injury. And it’s not over — Gore apparently gave information about an accomplice and setting 7 fires while he was being…
Yesterday, the Dallas Morning News had an interesting item: an article entitled “Case Studies of Officials Who Have Faced Removal,” which lists four men who have been investigated for doing bad things while acting in their official capacity: EDUARDO “WALO” BAZAN, Hidalgo County constable, convicted of felony theft (probated) for taking a seized, stolen truck…
Tim Cole did not rape the Texas Tech student over in Lubbock, back in 1985. Jerry Wayne Johnson, according to his own confession as well as DNA evidence, committed this crime. Didn’t matter. Tim Cole was arrested, charged, convicted, and imprisoned for the girl’s rape. One day, Tim Cole was a student with a future…
Last September, everyone in Kerrville was surprised when District Judge Karl Prohl suddenly resigned from the bench, with more than a year left in his term. The Kerrville Daily Times reported on how Judge Prohl’s letter of resignation — effective immediately — shocked the courthouse. One staffer supposed that at the age of 69, and…
For many years, Clete Buckaloo was one the elite as a member of the Texas Rangers. Then, he retired as a Ranger and took the job as the head of the 216th Judicial District probation office, doing his thing for the probation department for awhile. Then, late last month, former Texas Ranger Clete Buckaloo turned…
Late last week, a federal jury came back with their verdict in the case of the United States v. Manny Barraza over in El Paso. The verdict? Former Criminal District Court Judge Manuel Joseph Barraza was guilty of two (2) counts of wire fraud and the deprivation of honest services and one (1) count of…
