The Llano Ledger
Newsletter Text V28
This Website Is Full. Starting With The December 25, 2000 Newsletter,
All Future Editions Will Be Posted In The Llano Ledger 2, Found By
Clicking http://maxpages.com/llanoledger2.
**************February 22, 2000**************
Last week, Llano County officials held a series of four town meetings
cleverly designed to promulgate the supposed need of a new law
enforcement center. Before fully addressing this issue, however,
readers are advised I've begun publishing Judge Sam Sparks Summary
Judgment Order. It will be posted in its entirety as quickly as
possible, and can be found on Jail V1 and V2.
The Order was rendered shortly before the start of the Tina Wisdom
jail-rape civil lawsuit trial heard in Austin. This document will
provide interesting insight into how our jail was managed, and will
illuminate the abuses and inappropriate improper activities tolerated.
In the near future, excerpts from the Sheriff's deposition by Austin
attorney Iris Jones will also be presented. This material will provide
an interesting look into how our officials think and operate.
The saga of LISD Superintendent Jack Patton goes on and on and on.... A
letter from our fine feathered friend can be found on Reader Letters
V2. Two additional letters have also been posted, -- one to Patton and
the other to School Board President Tere Hutto, both in response. The
complaint filed with the Open Records Division has also been published.
... Jack, you're making this much TOO easy my friend....
Hear about the recent Llano Chamber banquet extravaganza? Truly
glitzy stuff, no? Fluff taken to a remarkable new level. Sadly, where's
the substance, Regina?
With all the activity going on, I've been updating this publication
nearly daily. Be sure to check other _Ledger pages during the week for
the latest. Now, on to the main thrust of this edition, -- the proposed
jail.
I attended the Kingsland town meeting Wednesday evening. County
Judge J.P. Dodgen emceed the festivities. A computer-assisted slide
show was presented with the Judge providing narration. Obviously, quite
a bit of effort was put into the pageant. Jail Standards Commission
Director of Operations Terry Julian argued the supposed necessity of a
new facility. Architect Lamarr McDonald of Huckabee & Associates
outlined plans for the building. Interestingly, he had nothing to say
of the Travis County Criminal Justice Center boondoggle, and more
importantly, how those problems might be avoided here.
The Sheriff also spoke and answered a few questions. No new ground
was broken at the meeting. It was a re-hash of what has already been
presented in the media. Some 30 people attended in Horseshoe Bay. There
were approximately 7 in Kingsland, and 40 at Lakeshore. I don't know
how many were in Llano.
Although the presentation was well-prepared and slick, it failed to
make the case. According to the booking records, there were 615
prisoners held in the jail from Jan. 1 to 11:00am Nov. 10, 1999. Of
those, and as reported earlier, AT LEAST 130 were incarcerated on
warrants and complaints involving minor charges such as No Driver's
License, No Liability Insurance, Speeding, Reckless Driving, etc.. Most
of these people should not have been jailed in the first place. Readers
should understand this amounts to 21% of the jail population. Indeed,
there are other better ways of handling non-violent offenses, such as
towing the vehicle and imposing a substantial storage fee, stiff
community service, etc..
There were AT LEAST 60 prisoners incarcerated on drug charges during
the reporting period. That amounts to 10% of the jail population. These
60 inmates racked up 534 prisoner-days. Why? Outrageous bail. Were most
wealthy, powerful dealers and pushers? Certainly not. Otherwise, they
would have quickly posted egregiously excessive, unconstitutional bonds
imposed by our magistrates. ... A deliberate overloading of the jail?
You bet. In the coming weeks, much more will be presented. Sadly, most
of it quite unflattering to the Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET).
Just as importantly, readers should understand the Kerr County
prisoner population figures and projections used by the County Judge at
the town meetings were conveniently distorted and irreconcilable to the
figures published earlier in the media. The Kerr population has indeed
dropped drastically from late April 1999 through the end of the year
and on into January of this year.
Coincidentally, the figures started dropping after this publication
started pounding the Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Sheriff's
Department on this website last spring for deliberately overloading the
jail. I'll present additional Kerr population analysis in the near
future. Suffice it to say for now, our officials are deliberately
distorting their own figures.
Our illustrious County Judge disingenuously asserted a new facility
was indeed required to prevent a successful future federal lawsuit
similar to the one the County was supposedly fortunate enough to "win"
the last time. Mr. Dodgen was alluding to the Tina Wisdom jail-rape
civil suit. His assertion was blatantly false for two reasons.
First, Llano County didn't "win" the lawsuit. The jury found that a
rape had indeed occurred in the jail. Most pointedly Judge, this fact
was widely reported in area media at the time. Sadly and unjustly, the
jury awarded no cash to Ms. Wisdom, however, because of egregiously
outrageous sovereign immunity statutes that blatantly protect and grant
carte blanche to corrupt and abusive officials such as ours.
Secondly, Mr. Dodgen's outrageous assertion a new facility is
required to prevent a similar future lawsuit, is also false due to the
fact the rape was more a function of corrupt, abusive, and incompetent
jailers than the physical security of the current facility itself.
Sadly, a new building will do nothing to correct the jail personnel
problem.
Once I've completed posting the entire Summary Judgment Order, it
will be fully analyzed on this website. From what has already been
presented, however, it is clear the federal judge threw out most of the
plaintiff's claims due to sovereign immunity issues. Sadly and
outrageously those claims were never heard by the jury during the
subsequent trial. Just as sadly, our sovereign immunity laws clearly
support and protect corrupt and abusive officials at the expense of
those aggrieved by their outrageous abuse. ... Or do prisoners get what
they "deserve"?
Ever wonder what happened to the jailers? Chief Jailer Melvin
Lawson "retired". He is now a Llano County Deputy. Interesting, isn't
it? From the jail booking records as well as a personal conversation
I've had with this officer, Lawson has little understanding of the
Fourth Amendment and its probable cause requirements. Apparently, this
may be attributed to his relative lack of recent experience as a police
officer, as well as the police state mentality fostered by upper
management, i.e. the Sheriff.
Donny Stewart was promoted to Chief Jailer after Lawson's
"retirement". John Overstreet has been recently promoted to Sergeant.
According to the Sheriff, "John has done an excellent job for us." ...
Like he did the night of the rape? Mr. Overstreet is married to Llano
County Deputy Aimee Overstreet. As asserted in an earlier edition,
Aimee is one of the best officers in the Department. I have yet to hear
of any complaints against her, and she is indeed an asset to our
community.
Readers should carefully examine the Summary Judgment Order. Judge
Sparks has painstakingly described in great detail the horrendous abuse
by former jailer Holland Ligon. Ligon was given the boot several months
after the rape for having had sex with an inmate. What the hell took
the Sheriff so long? Couldn't be he was pressured to look the other way
by his predecessor, could it? Readers will recall the former Sheriff is
Gale Ligon. Sadly, the vestiges and legacy of "Ligon's Law" survive to
this day within the Department. For those who may not know, the former
Sheriff is the grandfather of Holland Ligon, the fired jailer. ... My,
my, my... What webs we weave. Indeed.
Most pointedly, why wasn't the former jailer prosecuted? Excellent
question. Ask Mr. Garrett and District Attorney Sam Oatman. To date,
their explanations ring hollow and are indeed self-serving. ... After
all, this is Llano County, isn't it?
What indeed were the consequences to our illustrious jailers?
Bottom line? Keep your mouth shut, tow the mark, lie like hell as
necessary, and guess what? You get promoted. What about both rape
victims? Who cares? Right? Both women are "trash", aren't they? Isn't
that right, Mr. Dodgen? They got what they "deserved", didn't they?
What about it dear readers? ... Think it couldn't happen to YOUR
wife, girlfriend, mother, sister, daughter, cousin, aunt, grandmother,
etc.? Think again. People in Llano County don't have to be guilty of
anything to get hauled to jail. Time to wake up.
There will be much more to come in the near future on this issue
and others closely related. -- Including the failure of our illustrious
DA to fully prosecute former inmate trustee Johnny Joe Pesina of the
rape of a second female inmate.
At the town meeting Wednesday evening, a County official privately
remarked to me "We really need this facility". From HIS perspective and
that of his cronies, sadly, he's absolutely right. Certainly, THEY do
need it. The more jail beds in the County, the more money to be made.
After all, the jail and local courts are indeed the cash cows for the
County. Sadly, justice has little to nothing to do with the current
system. Truly, it IS the money. Time for citizens to wake up to the
corruption and demand an independent audit of ALL County finances.
Before we even THINK of building a new facility, we should first
demand an end to the egregious abuses in the Sheriff's Department and
the courts. At least 21% of our inmates were incarcerated on petty
non-violent charges that could be better adjudicated by other methods
such as the expensive towing and storage of offenders' vehicles, by
imposing hefty community service sentences, requiring restitution and
victims' compensation amounting to several times actual damages, --
while giving all of it to the victims, etc.. Shift the burden to the
non-violent offender, rather than the taxpayers. Our officials want no
part of it. After all, there would be far less to steal.
As our County Judge quipped Wednesday evening at the town meeting:
"We have no objection to offering DPS space in the new facility. The
County GETS 75% of every ticket they write." Again, as our corrupt and
abusive officials might say: "It's the MONEY, stupid."
Worse yet, many of our prisoners are held on bogus charges designed
to increase the County's cash coffers. Public Intoxication is an
egregious example. Why are PI prisoners who demand a Breathalyzer or
blood test to prove their innocence denied? Couldn't have anything to
do with the $600 fine, could it? Most pointedly, whatever happened to
innocent until proven guilty? ... In Llano County? What do I want, the
world or what?
If you're a passenger in a vehicle whose driver is arrested for
DWI, better not have the smell of alcohol on YOUR breath. -- Not even
one drink. If you do, it's highly likely you'll spend the night in jail
on a Public Intoxication charge. You'll also contribute $600 to the
County's cash coffers. Again, you will NOT be given the opportunity to
prove your innocence with a Breathalyzer or blood test. Wouldn't want
the County denied 600 bucks, would you? Sadly, I've only scratched the
surface on this type of abuse. There'll
be more reported in the coming weeks.
Public thanks to the Sheriff for providing a ride Wednesday evening
as I thumbed home from the town meeting In Kingsland. ... Indeed, life
is ALWAYS most interesting, isn't it? -- Certainly, never a dull
moment. All joking aside and sadly, a lot more will be presented in the
near future as promised. -- Most of it unflattering to the Sheriff and
other County officials.
Hmmmm..... Courage? What the hell is that? In Llano County? Again,
what do I want, the world or what? Dear readers, WHERE indeed is YOUR
courage? With a visitor count in excess of 7900 (another
record-breaking week), this publication is apparently considered good
enough to be read by many. Yet, it is NOT being financially supported.
Besides beans in the pot, there are other expenses. Since area
businesses are apparently too cowardly to advertise here, this
publication has to be a grassroots community effort if it is to go to
hard copy. I will not go into debt. This has to pay for itself as it
goes. To be truly effective, _The Llano Ledger has required 16-18hrs.
daily, 7 days/wk. since launch nearly 11 months ago.
Sadly, this community is apparently COWARDLY willing to allow this
writer to take the risk, do all the work, put up with the harassment,
and swing in the wind. Alone. Damned pitiful and incredibly selfish. As
long as you get yours, no problem. Right? -- Take what you can get, and
the hell with the other guy. Truly sad. Then again, this is Llano
County. Isn't it clear our corrupt and abusive "leaders" are no more
than a reflection of ... who else? ... We, the people? Regardless, it
doesn't excuse them anymore than it excuses each of you. While I'm more
than willing to take the risk, do all the work, put up with the
harassment, and swing in the wind, I NEED your financial support.
As repeatedly asserted, the pop-up and banner advertising belongs
to Maxpages. _The Ledger receives no income from either, and remains
non-profit. As always, this publication needs and appreciates donations
from readers. Sadly, no other publication is willing to challenge
corrupt and abusive officials. Readers can expect continued aggressive,
relentless, officious, tireless pursuit of our most egregious
offenders. -- Figuratively speaking, a "take no prisoners" approach,
regardless of whose toes are stepped on, feathers ruffled, tail
feathers plucked, or beak tweaked. Things can change in our community.
Be part of it. Help me to help you. Support this publication.
Tim Chorney, Publisher
Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam Tx. 78609
llanoledger@mailcity.com
Page Updated Tue Oct 9, 2001 1:25pm EDT