The Llano Ledger


Newsletter Text V32

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.

***Publisher's Note: The cowardly failure of the community to financially support this publication is stunningly pitiful and selfish. Worse yet, the sickening defense and excuse of cowardice by some is appalling. If readers care so little for this community and each other, why should I? T.C.***

*************March 20, 2000**************
The following letter from our "honorable" District Attorney was received Friday, March 17:
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District Attorney's Office
Thirty-Third Judicial District
Sam Oatman, District Attorney
P.O. Box 725
Llano, Texas 78643

March 16, 2000

Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
Rt.2, Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, TX 78609

Dear Mr. Chorney:

Enclosed find copies of the records that you have requested of which we are custodians.

The cost allowed by law for 89 pages is $22.25. Please make your check or money order out to the District Attorney's Office, 33rd Judicial District and mail to this office. These funds will be immediately turned over to the Llano County Treasurer to offset our budget for this fiscal year.

Sincerely,
Sam Oatman
District Attorney

SO/lb

Enclosures
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... My, my, my... Finally managed to tweak the beak of our illustrious "prosecutor", haven't I? Our outstanding "diligent" District Attorney, however, didn't carefully read the open records request dated Mar. 12, 2000, -- or has difficulties understanding the word "access". Nowhere in that letter were copies requested, Counselor. Care to argue the meaning of "access" as our President argued the meaning of "is"?

All joking aside, Mr. Oatman is well aware of how Open Records requests are routinely handled. The government agency responds with a date, time and place "access" to records will be provided. The public information officer for the entity clearly states AHEAD of time what the copying charges will be. The requestor then has the opportunity to review the material and request whatever copies are desired at the time of the review. Most pointedly, Oatman is well aware of this, or is egregiously incompetent as well as abusive.

Our illustrious District Attorney, however, is an avid reader of this publication. He knows quite well there is no financial support. This is precisely why this "legal" beagle provided 89 unrequested copies at a cost of 25 cents/copy. Readers are reminded the Llano City Manager charged 5 cents/copy. The Hospital charged 10 cents/copy. Our illustrious DA, however, has elected to charge 25 cents/copy for copies that were NEVER requested. No sale, Sam. The hustle didn't work, pal. Hell will indeed freeze over before you, or this egregiously corrupt County, ever see a penny.

Equally pointedly, our illustrious "prosecutor" knows damn well I would never have agreed to pay an outrageous charge of 25 cents/copy. Why not up the charge to $1/copy, Sam? ... Better re-read Ch.552, Gov't Code, sir. It only allows REASONABLE copying charges. Most pointedly, why provide unrequested copies of agreements that in several cases weren't even signed by both parties??? ... HELLO??? Equally pointedly, are the records indeed complete? -- You wouldn't hold out on me, would you Sam?

... Readers are reminded we no longer "own" property in this nation. The government does. We essentially "rent" it. If you don't pay the "rent" (taxes), you lose the property you never really "owned" in the first place. ... Why not file a lien against my property to recover the cost of the unrequested copies, Mr. Oatman? Better yet, why not have your goons arrest me on a bogus charge? Happens to others all the time, doesn't it? After all, the criminal "justice" system is the cash cow for the County, isn't it sir? Although there is no legal obligation to return unsolicited copies, being an ethical, upstanding, honest citizen, I intend to personally deliver them when in town.

What about the truth, Counselor? Why didn't you offer access to the documents at your office as customarily done? ... Afraid I might have asked you or your cronies pointed questions about the jail-rapes, or your failure to prosecute your former victims' assistance coordinator who left under highly questionable circumstances? What about credible allegations of witness tampering twice reported by KHLB at the time the grand jury "investigated" the jail-rapes? Equally pointedly, why was former NET Co-Commander Brent Nichols demoted to Sergeant instead of being criminally investigated by your office? Did he have too much on his corrupt and abusive colleagues?

By all means, Counselor, force the issue on the unrequested copies. It will certainly be great fodder for this web site during an election year. A lien or bogus arrest would certainly provide ammunition for months, -- and fuel official oppression charges against you and your corrupt cronies. ... Not all of us are intimidated, Mr. Oatman. Time to wake up, sir.

Readers should understand our abusive "prosecutor" apparently has enormous time on his hands. He received the formal request no earlier than Tuesday morning, but managed to have staff find and copy 89 pages of material by Thursday. -- Nothing better to do, Sam? Been a slow week? ... I'm flattered by the attention, and grateful for the additional fodder. More importantly, the released documents provide some insight into how NET looted spoils are divided among our corrupt and greedy governmental entities. ... More to come on this in a future edition.
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I've begun to post the Garrett Deposition keystroke by keystroke, so please be patient. I'll get it up as quickly as possible. Since it is damaging, the decision was made to present it in its entirety so readers could judge for themselves. By his own admission, the Sheriff was twice arrested and jailed in the 1970's. In addition, there are allegations of wife-beating involving the alleged infliction of physical injury to his wife Connie requiring treatment by Dr. Styt.

There are also allegations of bigoted statements and physical threats to Austin attorney Iris Jones. The bulk of the questioning, however, centers on the Sheriff's oversight of the jail and the rape investigation. Sadly, the deposition raises serious questions regarding the competence and fitness of Mr. Garrett for office.

Interestingly, the Sheriff had known for months jailer Holland Ligon had in fact had sex with an inmate. Our illustrious District Attorney told him at the time of grand jury proceedings on the jail-rapes. Yet, Garrett didn't immediately fire Ligon. Why??? Couldn't be he was beholden to the jailer's grandfather, former Sheriff Gale Ligon, could it? ... Never happen in this County, right? No. Never. No way.

The following complaint regarding a variety of local abuses was snail-mailed to Texas Assistant Attorney General June B. Harden:
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June B. Harden
Assistant Attorney General
Open Records Division
Office of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, Tx. 78711-2548

Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger
Rt 2 Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609

Re: Bogus Request For Ruling

March 18, 2000

Dear Counselor:

Among other issues, this is a complaint filed against Llano Memorial Healthcare System (LMHS) for requesting a bogus exception ruling from the Open Records Division. The request, dated 10-28-1999, was made by Fletcher H. Brown of Davis & Wilkerson on behalf of LMHS and LMHS Administrator Ernie Parisi. The document was assigned ID#130931 by the Open Records Division.

On January 6, 2000, you issued ruling OR2000-0066 denying LMHS exception to disclosure, rejecting each and every argument proferred by Mr. Brown. Requesting a ruling from the Attorney General was indeed a brilliant stonewalling tactic by the Hospital and its hired legal gun. Sadly, Llano County taxpayers were consequently looted at least $1,070.00 in legal fees according to the Administrator.

Other than credibility and attorney's fees, however, LMHS had nothing to lose. In fact, the Hospital deceptively bought additional time to finalize arrangements before formally announcing expansion plans January 10, -- just four days after the issuance of your ruling. The Administrator disingenuously denied any connection. This is simply not credible since Parisi and Brown had to have known the date of the ruling weeks before, -- as I had.

Nearly every step of the way, the Administrator has egregiously stonewalled. Prior to the open records request, an informal inquiry was made by e-mail. Mr. Parisi finally responded, offering excess to the accounting reports as well as the feasibility study. He also had agreed to explain the documents and answer any questions. A meeting was arranged for October 13, 1999. At that time, the Administrator reneged on the agreement.

He disingenuously provided a copy of Ch.551.085 of the Texas Open Meetings Act to justify withholding documents requested under the Texas Open Records Act. Since all business regarding the proposed new facility was conducted in executive session by the Administrator's own admission, there are apparently Open Meetings Act violations as well.

There is no relief from corruption and abuse in Llano County. Sadly, the District Attorney as well as the County Attorney are apparently corrupt and highly selective in their prosecutions. Both have been repeatedly targeted in _The Llano Ledger.

The District Attorney dismissed a jail-rape indictment of former jail trusty Johnny Joe Pessina, ostensibly as part of a plea bargain. The rape was of a second female inmate. In reality, the indictment was apparently dismissed to protect the County, the Sheriff, and the "Good Old Boys" who ran the jail against civil suits that had earlier been filed.

While a finding of rape had indeed been made in the first suit, no cash was awarded due to egregiously unfair sovereign immunity statutes protecting and coddling corrupt and abusive officials such as ours. Ms. Harden, there has been no justice. Both the Sheriff and District Attorney refused to order an independent criminal investigation unbeholden to the "Good Old Boys". Worse yet, local Texas Ranger Joey Gordon rubberstamped the "investigation" for the Sheriff and our illustrious District Attorney. Equally disturbing, there were credible allegations the District Attorney tampered with at least one grand jury witness.

With the Texas Attorney General having limited power to investigate without consent of the District Attorney, Llano County citizens are forced to live with the corruption and abuse. Worse yet, due to gut-wrenching fear, no one had the courage to run against the District Attorney, County Attorney, or the Sheriff this year.

Sadly, the criminal "justice" system has become the cash cow for the County. The Sheriff and the Commissioners' Court have disingenuously asserted the supposed need for a new law enforcement center and jail. Worse yet, they've refused to order an independent study to assess the "need".

Under the Texas Open Records Act, access was granted to the booking records. I've been publishing results of the study for months. There is NO true need. Why do our officials want a new facility? ... The more beds, the more money to line County coffers. In fact, the Sheriff's Department and Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) are deliberately overloading the jail to force the building of a new facility, which in all likelihood will cost taxpayers twice the original estimate due to the cost of financing. Factor in cost overruns as have happened at the Travis County facility, and the taxpayers could wind up paying several times the original estimate.

Our "judges" have gone along, imposing outrageous bail on often bogus charges. Constitutional rights mean nothing in Llano County, -- especially to the corrupt and abusive officers of the Narcotics Enforcement Team. Former NET Co-Commander Brent Nichols was demoted to Sergeant last year, supposedly for "administrative" reasons. This abusive officer has a reputation that has followed him throughout the area. NET has lost cases when Nichols has in effect invoked the Fifth while on the stand. Yet, he was never criminally investigated or prosecuted by our illustrious District Attorney. Why? Could it be Nichols has too much on his corrupt and abusive fellow officers? This fascist police organization has absolutely no respect or regard for constitutional rights.

Mason County grew wise to these egregiously abusive criminals. Sadly, Llano County officials have their heads securely lodged in a bodily orifice that seldom sees the light of day. Apparently, they're in collusion. After all, NET generates, directly and indirectly, enormous income for County cash coffers. As our corrupt and abusive officials might say:"It's the money, stupid".

With no fear of legal action by local prosecutors, the Hospital has been free to do as it pleases. The Administrator has continued to stonewall requests for information. Upon review of the released documents, serious questions were raised as to the reliability and validity of the accounting reports. ... Apparently, LMHS officials deliberately withheld from accountants data required under generally accepted accounting principles. These possibly bogus reports were then used to support the validity of the Feasibility Study.

Consequently, I requested access to all LMHS-accountants correspondence regarding the proposed facility, including fax, snail, e-mail, and telephone logs. One four-page document was released by the Administrator in response. Be advised the Hospital spent $21,460 on the accounting reports, -- more than on the Feasibility Study itself. Yet, there are no further records? The Administrator's assertions are not credible. Without the Gestapo power of a prosecutor or police investigator, however, there is no quick or easy way to determine the truth. With corrupt and abusive prosecutors, there is no one to criminally investigate possible wrongdoing.

Although I expect nothing will be done, as a high State official, you should be aware of what is going on in this corrupt and abusive County. Although no smoking gun has surfaced yet due to egregious stonewalling and obfuscation by officials and their shills, there is indeed probable cause to order an independent audit of all County finances as well as a criminal investigation of County officials. Sadly, I've ONLY scratched the surface of these issues in this letter. In addition, there are problems within the School District, the Appraisal District, the Commissioners' Court, and elsewhere. Thanks for your time and consideration. Thanks also for doing the right thing earlier by forcing the release of the requested documents. Sadly, the only way left to end the corruption and abuse here is to expose it to the light of day. This publication will certainly continue to do all it can.

Sincerely,
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger

cc: David Short, Open Records Division
File
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_The Ledger visitor count stands in excess of 10,200. Another record breaking week, approximately twice the usual number of hits. Yet, there continues to be no financial support, despite snowballing readership. ... After all, why pay for it when you can get it for free? Apparently, this community is COWARDLY willing to allow this writer to take the risk, do all the work, put up with the harassment, and swing in the wind. Damned pitiful and incredibly selfish. With growing public interest, our cowardly area businesses will sooner or later take advantage of the market represented by this expanding readership. While I can certainly understand the fear and subsequent reluctance of businesses to advertise, it is the failure of the readership to financially support this publication that disturbs me most. Indeed, WHERE is YOUR courage and generosity? When will you do your part, instead of selfishly taking what you can get? If this publication is apparently good enough to be read by so many, why isn't it being financially supported?

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 1:23pm EDT