Freeman was indicted based on allegations that she falsely claimed five inmates who were up for parole had declined to be interviewed regarding their possible release and all were denied. See prior Grits coverage.
Under the penal code, tampering with records is a Class A misdemeanor unless "the actor's intent is to defraud or harm another, in which event the offense is a state jail felony," which is the offense with which Freeman was charged in these latest cases.
The original case, for which attorney and former Congressman Craig Washington is her retained counsel, has been repeatedly reset, having last been scheduled to go to trial in January. As of this writing, Washington is not listed as the attorney of record in the new cases, indictments for which were handed down in February, even though his bar license should have been reinstated by now.
Paging my reporter friends: Somebody ought to get on this story.
I'm betting she "gets away with it". (Good Ole Boy's Club)
ReplyDeleteA story is long overdue!
ReplyDeleteTexas has more abusers of the Parole System than just the commissioner anywhere you give a person control and power over another person's life you have abuse. Numerous abuses have been reported out in West Texas, BUT, no one does anything about it. The Parole system is nothing but a big rip off of taxpayers dollars...parole officers should have to wear mics and cameras just like the cops.
ReplyDeleteQuestion:
ReplyDeleteIs Bettie Wells, the genius who reinstated Kenneth McDuff's parole, still the General Counsel of the BPP?
Why was she on this Parole Commissioner board? She can punish others, is she above the law? She should not be a Public Employee ever again and she should lose any benefits that the people have promised her (as she took her Oath of Office), after breaking her Oath to the people.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago the director of TDCJ was indicted for taking kick backs from individuals selling TDCJ soybean products. Can't remember his name at the moment but he never served even one day in jail. His attorneys kept filing motions to have the trail reset over and over again. Finally the charges were dismissed and he got off scott free. Just another day in the Texas Good Ol Boy criminal justice system.
ReplyDeleteI heard they gave her a promotion
ReplyDelete3:21:
ReplyDeleteHis name was James Collins, and the soybean crap was called "Vita-pro". You are right, there was no final conviction against Mr. Collins.
I had a post typed out however, I lost it.
ReplyDeleteMy long point was...Ms Freeman has impacted five lives plus their families. The roots of actions run very deep. We as families are the biggest victims of the system.
re: Andy Collins, the case did not just go away through resets. He was convicted at trial and then that verdict was overturned by the federal appellate courts. At re-trial, Collins was acquitted.
ReplyDeleteWhether one agrees with the ultimate outcome or not, it is not accurate to say that the charges just 'went away.' He had two different trials...