Voting in Brownwood: What's the "Rest of the Story" ?

Brownwood man indicted over voting altercation
By Celinda Emison / emisonc@reporternews.com
October 7, 2006

BROWNWOOD - The Brown County grand jury handed down a two-count indictment Thursday against Eddie Gomez on charges of aggravated assault of a public servant involving an incident during the municipal election last May.
On May 13, Gomez, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of aggravated assault following an altercation with police at the Brownwood Coliseum annex. He was jailed that day, and released on bonds totaling $17,500. Gomez, a disabled combat Marine, has no prior record, according to Brown County officials.
If convicted, Gomez could receive 2-10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 for the two third-degree felony counts, said 35th District Attorney Michael Murray. The indictment was released on Friday.
''The next step will be arraignment and scheduling subsequent hearings,'' Murray said.
Gomez is set to be arraigned Nov. 27.
Police reports allege the altercation began when Gomez was told he could not use his cell phone at a polling place.
Police reports indicate Gomez, who was outside the building, struck one officer in the face two times and had to be restrained.
In an interview Friday, Gomez maintains he was unfairly provoked by personnel at the elections office and later by police and witnesses. Gomez said he was severely beaten by police and witnesses that day.
''This not about race, it is about human dignity and civil and voting rights and I don't wish this upon anybody,'' Gomez said. ''There were numerous people who were treated with disrespect by (election) officials that day - I simply stood up for my right to vote.''
Gomez, 34, was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1994 after serving in the Gulf War in Iraq. Gomez is 100 percent disabled and if convicted, could lose his military benefits.
Family, friends and fellow Marines gathered at the Brown County Courthouse on Thursday morning for a rally to show support for Gomez while the grand jury was meeting. Members of the Pecan Valley Marine Corps League are also supporting him.
Gomez's attorney John Lee Blagg said that over the past few months dozens of citizens had contacted Murray to ask that the case not go before the grand jury.
Murray declined comment about whether he has received letters in support of Gomez or has been in contact with any of Gomez's supporters.
Blagg said he and his client have cooperated fully with the investigation conducted by Texas Ranger Nick Hanna.
Blagg said he believes elections officials should be investigated thoroughly by the city of Brownwood (because this was a municipal election) and Brown County.
The League of United Latin American Citizens is conducting an investigation and has requested an investigation into the case by the U.S. Department of Justice.
''We need to see why this happened,'' LULAC Civil Rights Director Christine Salazar said, adding there is nothing in the election code prohibiting the use of cell phones at a polling place.
''The message to Hispanics from this incident is to stay home on Election Day,'' Salazar said. ''The right to vote is a sacred privilege - every citizen has the right to the democratic process.''

source: http://www.reporter-news.com/abil/nw_local/article/0,1874,ABIL_7959_5049474,00.html
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Grand jury returns Gomez indictment

By Steve Nash — Brownwood Bulletin

Eddie Gomez was indicted last week in connection with an altercation with police shortly after he voted at the Brownwood Coliseum Annex in the May 13 city election.
Gomez, 34, was arrested on two charges of assault on a public servant, Brown County Jail records state.
The Texas League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) issued a release Tuesday saying will investigate “possible federal civil rights and voting rights violations” involving Gomez’ arrest.
Brownwood police have said the May 13 incident began when a man who was there to vote became angry over issues including being asked to turn off his cell phone. The man fought with two police officers, police have said.
Gomez’ attorney, John Lee Blagg, said earlier he had hoped to address the grand jury and present Gomez’ viewpoint but was not invited into the grand jury room. He said he gave District Attorney Micheal Murray evidence and asked him to present it to the grand jury but didn’t know if Murray had done so.
That evidence, Blagg said, was photos of injuries he said Gomez sustained in the altercation, letters from community members expressing support of Gomez, and a letter from LULAC about the Gomez case.
LULAC said in its release that Gomez was “angrily and disrespectfully” confronted by an election judge about his use of a cell phone, and was “severely beaten and bruised” by police and a civilian.
Brownwood Police Chief Virgil Cowin has said his officers acted in self-defense and did nothing wrong.

source: http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/articles/2006/10/08/news/news01.txt