Monday, February 04, 2008

DA who failed to prosecute TYC sex abuse cases running for re-election

I've been focused elswhere besides the blog, or I would have mentioned sooner this Dallas News story about the Pecos County District Attorney's race ("Pecos DA criticized in youth jail sex scandal seeking re-election," Feb. 2), notable in particular because the incumbent running for re-election is the prosecutor who refused to pursue child molestation charges against Texas Youth Commission administrators at the West Texas State School, launching a crisis that ultimately led to the agency entering conservatorship. Reported the News:

The West Texas prosecutor who received national attention for ignoring a lengthy and graphic Texas Rangers report detailing sexual abuse at a nearby state juvenile jail thinks he can win another term in office.

But the scandal involving the systematic abuse of children held in Texas Youth Commission facilities won't be ignored. His only opponent is the county attorney who tried to run him out of office on grounds of misconduct and incompetence, and the two have been feuding since the scandal broke last year.

Randy Reynolds decided to seek a fourth term last year after speaking with his family, close friends and colleagues.

"Close supporters caused me to run again," Mr. Reynolds said. "People whose opinions I trust told me to run, and the decision was made."

See the rest of the piece for more backstory on the feud over this case between the county attorney who's challenging Reynolds and the incumbent, stemming largely from Reynolds' failure to pursue the TYC prosecutions. (As an aside, it's worth mentioning that the US Attorney also refused to prosecute based on the Ranger's findings, and he's still there, too.) Among other notable distinctions, Reynolds was named number eight on the Bad Prosecutor Blog's list of Worst Prosecutors in 2007.

It takes a lot of chutzpah to run for re-election after the media and legislators pilloried Mr. Reynolds all last year for his recalcitrance in pursing TYC cases. I wish his opponent luck. Whoever told Mr. Reynolds it was a good idea to run again gave him bad advice.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Vote for his opponent and be heard WTSS! Send that bum "Number 8 in the Top Ten US. worst prosecutors" to the curb guys.

Anonymous said...

Small town politics, Reynolds will probably be re-elected. His opponent is no better than he is. His supporters are all in Reeves County.

Anonymous said...

But Acker keeps saying he doesn't want the job. Those poor people in Pyote have sort of a Hobson's choice when it comes to a DA. But, like Falls County, no one but Democrats run for office so elections are often all over in the primary -- no real need for a general election. Very efficient.

The Geography Lady said...

I know them both, Acker much better than Reynolds (full disclosure - I worked with and then for Acker).
They are typical W Tx attorneys - small town guys who are the 'big fish' in a small pond.
You might as well vote for Acker - Randy's had his chance, now let someone else have a shot.
Unfortunately, Randy will probably win, since Pecos is bigger than Monahans, and Acker is a Monahans guy. Maybe that's why Reynolds won't prosecute Reeves County felons much - he doesn't want to deplete his base.

Anonymous said...

Amen 7:15...

Anonymous said...

Scott, seems to me a legal blog meister should be able to keep minor things like jurisdictions accurate, even if just quoting the DMN In rural areas, districts (as in DISTRICT attorneys) may run to two or even three counties. In the case of Distric 143 these consist of Ward, Reeves and Loving Counties (in 2004, Loving had population of 67. The respective county seats are Monahans, Pecos and Mentone. What is significant? One county or even one city can control the rest of the district. Pyote (WTSS) is in Ward county and cannot expect the town of Pecos to support anyone that would leave Pecos open to effective prosecution. Keep in mind, former Reeves county judge Galindo left town after the fiasco of building a third prison with no customers and widening investigation into double dipping by county employees. Oh, by the way, it is also Galindo who worked for Hinojosa.

Anonymous said...

The more west you go, the more weird it gets.

Anonymous said...

When is there going to be outrage that the media is trying cases instead of our judicial system? It doesn't matter that the reason Randy didn't try these cases is that there wasn't sufficient evidence against them. Both of these men will be aquitted, and they will blame Randy. I'm going to vote for Mr. Reynolds just to say "f--- you" to all the media who have jumped to conclusions without sufficient evidence.

Anonymous said...

Hey Grits -
Here's your next story:
U.S.A. vs. State of Texas, Texas Youth Commission, Richard Nedelkoff, Dimitria Pope, and Melody Vidaurri. Supposedly filed Friday regarding violation of youth's constitutional rights at Evins Regional Juvenile Center. see you an get a copy and post a link!!

Anonymous said...

Here we go again....miss informed tyc jerks. This is old issue at evins. Order had to be filed in court. No new issues. Yall just want to continue to stir up the pot. Give it a rest and be part of the solution not problem.

Now back to the story of the DA. Damm shame here. He should be brought up on charges for no action. But he did not care about prosecuting crimes in lets say prision when it does not affect his ability to be elected. Fat fuk. Vote his azz out of office.

Anonymous said...

http://www.newschannel5.tv/2008/2/4/986126/Detention-Center-Inmates-Climbed-to-Roofs


Ok here is new information on Evins.

Anonymous said...

Grits,

There is alot going around the Bexar County Court House about Judge Roman overstepping her authority and trying to get a probation officer to falsly accuse her competition by subjecting the probation officer to a lie detector test????? Abuse of power??
I hope the media gets this one straight. Looks ugly from Roman and I hear the probation folks are calling in Van Os. Go Probation Officers - Ive been subjected to her lashings many times and know she is out of control.

Anonymous said...

finally the media gets one right instead of blowing up everything that happens at Evins out of proportion.

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/down_8730___article.html/kids_climbed.html

Anonymous said...

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/down_8730
___article.html/kids_climbed.html

Anonymous said...

Where's JEROME??? Call CO and get him to Evins ASAP.
ICE CREAM and CAKE please that will get them down.....lmao

Anonymous said...

To 9:23: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Whoo, boy. Hah. Misplaced righteous indignation is always so comical. Are you writing an angry letter to your local editor and everything?

Anonymous said...

What, pray tell, do Jerome and Evins have to do with Reynolds?

Anonymous said...

9:25 Incompetence and/or corruption come to mind :-)