The Brownwood Talking Heads Silence !

Panhandle DA pleads not guilty
Man facing drug, gun charges to check into rehab program
08:37 PM CST on Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Associated Press

AMARILLO – A West Texas district attorney pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal drug and firearms charges, and his attorney agreed to place him in an inpatient drug-rehabilitation program indefinitely.

Rick Roach, 55, was arrested Jan. 11 at the Gray County Courthouse. The two-term Republican has been jailed since his arrest last week on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of 1 ounce each of methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to distribute, and unlawful possession of weapons by a drug addict.

If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 51 years in prison and $2.5 million in fines. He declined to comment while being led from court Tuesday.

"We're looking forward to trying to get this entire situation resolved as quickly as possible," his attorney, Bill Kelly, said after the hearing.

Mr. Roach, who appeared in court in leg shackles with his wife and sons looking on from the gallery, will be released from federal custody after a treatment center is approved by the court. He must remain there until the court decides he can be released. Should that occur, he must remain in Potter County and is not to talk to any witnesses in the case.

According to an affidavit for his arrest unsealed Tuesday, Mr. Roach told a witness Jan. 5 that he had used methamphetamine several months earlier and "was now a regular user."

In August, he personally brought a court order to a Department of Public Safety lab in Amarillo to check out two pounds of methamphetamine he said would be used for training drug dogs, though dog handlers train with smaller amounts. As of Jan. 4, none of the drugs Mr. Roach obtained had been returned to the lab.

Some interviewed by the FBI indicated that Mr. Roach was taking drugs from evidence, and others said he was getting it from defendants.

In January 2002, Mr. Roach offered Rolex watches and money to two DPS troopers, allegedly to motivate other troopers in his area to make more money seizures, the affidavit states. Mr. Roach also told the troopers that he could pay them with interest from seized funds and that no one would know.
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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/011905dntexda.341c7.html


note for Brownwood's Talking Heads and their mindless followers (ie:sheeple):
http://feloniouselephant.blogspot.com/2004_01_01_feloniouselephant_archive.html