Robert Fox in jail but not the news. County Attorney blames victims for domestic violence.

Jacksonville, Texas:

They’ve called him a “terrorist sympathizer.” They say he has ties to "American Taliban" Johnny Walker Lindh and federal building bomber/mass murderer Timothy McVeigh. They said he set up shop at the House of Israel in downtown Jacksonville, Texas for the sole purpose of irritating the district attorney while bringing down the government. They said he was the focus of a “nationwide manhunt” by Homeland Security. They said he was a ticking time bomb and his brainwashed Republic of Texas followers were a threat to our God fearin' democratic way of life. But when Robert Fox appeared on the Cherokee County courthouse steps with his supporters, his arrest never made the Daily Progress or Rusk Cherokeean. Fox responded last week to a 9:00 am court summons and was quietly escorted away by Jacksonville detectives. All this after being labeled by the Jacksonville, Texas Chief of Police as a “Wanted Fugitive” and still at large.

Only the Tyler Morning News had the professional common sense to share with its readers 100 miles away that this 'threat to national security' had been captured- simply because he answered his summons.

No headlines in the Jacksonville paper proudly announcing the news:
“House of Israel leader Robert Fox arrested on December 5, 2008 at Cherokee County courthouse in Rusk, Texas.”

There are no local accounts of the arrest being published because Fox apparently obeyed his court summons to appear for his barratry and evading arrest charges. Feral pigs warrant local headlines but not the arrest of the Jacksonville Police Department's so-called "lightning rod" of terrorist activity.

Robert Fox (Source: Jacksonville Daily Progress)

An always disheveled Robert Fox, age 59, is in Cherokee County jail on a $30,000 bond. According to KETK Channel 56 and other news sources, Fox surrendered peacefully. However, Jacksonville PD detective Jason Price told the Tyler Morning News that Fox “did not cooperate whatsoever” during his December 5, 2008 arrest. The fact is the local newspapers have been told to pretend they now know nothing about the case, so the presiding judge can also pretend the media has not already poisoned Fox’s hand-picked jury members to be. Remember the Jacksonville Daily Progress front page headlines and attention grabbers during the 'hog dog fightin' days of summer'?:

• JPD arrests federal fugitive-Tuesday, April 08, 2008


• JPD nabs fed fugitive claiming affiliation with Republic of Texas- Wednesday, April 09, 2008


• State fugitive nabbed, large cache of illegal drugs found inside House of Israel building- Sunday, May 18, 2008


• House of Israel leader says he didn’t know drugs were there-Tuesday, May 20, 2008


• House of Israel's Robert Fox arrested-Thursday, May 22, 2008


• Police say financial documents may show more evidence of illegality by House of Israel’s Fox- Saturday, May 24, 2008


• BREAKING NEWS: Third search warrant in a month puts Fox back in jail -Thursday, June 12, 2008


• JPD files felony warrant against House of Israel’s Fox- Saturday, July 26, 2008

But no reports of the arrest and end to the manhunt of Robert Fox for potential jurors to read about. If it's news 100 miles away, then why isn't it news for the only two newspapers in the county? Fox faces a specially selected jury pool of relatives of investigating officers, etc. because untainted juries are nonexistent in Cherokee County.

Any change of venue of the Robert Fox case will be argued as inconsequential. If the population can't read, how can the court expect the trial jury to have any prejudicial pre-opinions of the Fox case despite the massive newspaper propaganda campaign against him? Besides, a cousin or two wouldn’t lie during voir dire to keep themselves planted in the jury box. Not in God's Country.

In July 2008, Jacksonville Police Detective Jason Price held a press conference to detail how his “investigation had uncovered connections between Fox and known terrorists.” Actually the Jacksonville Police Department's raid on the House of Israel halfway house on a Class C Misdemeanor charge led to the discovery of Fox's political writings. Expired Oxycontin was found horded away in the Fox compound. In any other venue the man's political dribble would be inadmissible and the mention of his personal effects would be unconstitutional.

Cherokee County chose to hype the escalating raids of the House of Israel and win the local public opinion after violating the Civil Rights of its citizenry. Want to bet the House of Israel phone lines were diverted off Main Street and Fox's conversations were being illegally tape recorded somewhere? Hence the heightened yet fictitious need for the Jacksonville Police Department to go to DEFCOM 5.

Jacksonville PD press conference (Source: Jacksonville Daily Progress)

Police avoided calling Fox violent but Chief Reece Daniel called the man a dangerous individual.

“Timothy McVeigh was the lightning,” Daniel said. “People like Robert Fox are the lightning rods that convince others to bomb buildings.”

Other East Texas media followed suit with news articles claiming Fox’s terroristic leanings.

(Source: House Of Israel Leader Has Taliban Links; Draws McVeigh Comparisons- July 25, 2008)

“JACKSONVILLE, TX (EAST TEXAS NEWS)- He's the ringleader of an anti-government group, caught here in East Texas. Now he's been linked to a major terrorist organization - the Taliban."

Tyler, TX based Channel 19 repeats the Jacksonville Police Department's claim that the indigent Robert Fox is a "dangerous individual" who was also wanted in Canada and Missouri.

(Source: House of Israel Ties to the Taliban?- July 25, 2008)

"[Jacksonville Police Detective Jason] Price said his department has solicited for assistance from the federal government. "But to this point we've gotten a lukewarm response," he said.

They hope that will change. Before this possible link to terrorism, turns to acts of terrorism.

If that is the case, then why didn't the hometown Jacksonville, Texas newspaper report that the "dangerous" Robert Fox is now sitting in the Cherokee County jail of his own volition? Why haven’t they continued their propaganda campaign ad absurdum? Because they have collectively violated the rights of a harmless blowhard and given him exactly what he wanted- another federal lawsuit to clog up the court system.

Footnote: Robert James Fox posted $30,000 bond and was released from Cherokee County jail on December 20, 2008. Still no reports from the local media.

Distraction results in successful propagandizing, no matter how absurd, e.g. naming Robert Fox as a link to terrorists based upon immaterial and inadmissible 'evidence.' This is what attorneys from out of the region should be prepared for when they argue cases in front of stacked Cherokee County juries. Cherokee County’s district judges allow the argument of “beliefs” instead of facts. Ten years ago they would have called Robert Fox a satanist. Twenty years ago they would called him a communist. Thirty years ago they would have called him a Vietnam deserter. The Cherokee County district attorney relies on the local newspaper to propagate this type of illegal smear campaign. Because Fox is indigent he will not be allowed to question or challenge these absurd accusations. The court simply will obstruct his defense. They certainly won’t allow the naming of opposing members of counsel and court officers as witnesses, even if everybody is first cousins and carpool to the courthouse. And the Defense can expect their confidential attorney/client phone conversations to be intercepted and played for the District Attorney's office.

Rusk, Texas: Warning, all roads lead to stupidity.

Everyone knows the small town media can help shape negative beliefs as much as positive ones. When Rusk Chamber of Commerce members are arrested for domestic violence, the formula remains the same: divert attention away by focusing it on someone not part of the Good Ol' Boy system. Analytical thinking is prohibited.

The strangest news story probably ever published in the Jacksonville Daily Progress appeared last month. An article titled "local man found guilty of assault despite victim dropping charges" attempts to explain the first legal precedent of its kind in Cherokee County history, the prosecution of domestic violence after the victim recants her story. Or perhaps to validate why Protective Orders in Cherokee County only apply to men like the one mentioned in the article, and not to those who advertise in the Daily Progress.

The naïve reporter of this tripe begins:
(Source: Jacksonville Daily Progress, November 8, 2008)

In what amounts to a fairly uncommon legal occurrence, the Cherokee County Attorney’s office prosecuted a Rusk man for misdemeanor assault/family violence last week despite the victim’s desire to drop the charges.

Taking their lessons from the Cherokee County District Attorney and Law School 101, local reporters follow the Chapter in Negative Logic. Remember it's always someone else's fault, so blame the victim. An innocent defendant can't prove a negative, i.e. something that never happened nor be proven to have happened. Therefore any lie is permissible and admissible and should never be questioned.

Lesson One- a defendant can’t prove a negative when the judge allows a criminal case to be tried based on the preponderance of the 'evidence.' Especially falsified evidence and when law enforcement is allowed to perjure. Or the judge ignores the cousins of the Plaintiff being planted on the jury. As a matter of fact, the more absurd the District Attorney's concoction and the more State witnesses lie on the stand, the better. It reaffirms what jury members have been fed prior to the vetting process and makes for fine entertainment for everyone involved. And remember the pool of potential jury members in Cherokee County, Texas is less than fifty.

The prosecutorial example always has to be made on the lone destitute defendant arrested for slapping his girlfriend. Not on the local businessmen arrested repeatedly for family violence- and whose cases are dismissed before the Bondsman posts bail. The County Attorney’s office has also found the need to justify the lack of effort prosecuting their constituent wife beaters backlogging the docket. Drunken habitual wife beaters who actually make the cut are reported as Misdemeanor Only offenders, because all the other arrestees simply will not be prosecuted if they are related to officers of the court. The more recent and more provocative beatings are swept under the carpet while those cases postponed for years are brought to the forefront, to shunt scrutiny from recent offenses.

In the above mentioned article, the Cherokee County Attorney’s office continues the lie that Police Reports from the arresting officer are nonexistent and a criminal prosecution of assault depends solely on the continual cooperation of the victim. They promise there will be serious consequences for every S.O.B., not related to the District Attorney Investigator like Gary Helm, caught beating up their significant other.

Assistant County Attorney Kelley Peacock said misdemeanor assault cases virtually never go to trial without the willing participation of the victim, but she said the circumstances of this case convinced the state to pick up charges. Helm was arrested Aug. 25, 2007, after reportedly punching the female victim multiple times in the face.

So begins the lie. In Cherokee County the written report and sworn affividavit of a sheriff deputy dispatched to the scene of the disturbance is not good enough to prosecute family violence? Even when the offender refuses to identify himself to the arresting officer? The Assistant County Attorney continues by describing the mindset of the Cherokee County juror faced with convicting a member of the District Court's inner circle for Bodily Injury.

“There were members of the jury panel who said they wouldn’t convict a person, even if I proved beyond a reasonable doubt that they committed assault, if the victim didn’t want the defendant to be prosecuted. I feel like this is a problem in our community,” she said.

It is distressing to her how frequently victims of abuse will file charges, decide to return to their batterer and then drop the charges.

There is no mention of any silly little Protective Orders being violated by these repeat offenders because Cherokee County won't issue any embarrassing paper trail for their buddies. It is not because the female "victims choose to protect their attackers by refusing to pursue charges" as the County Attorney's office propaganda piece contends. It is because the County Attorney will not pursue criminal charges whatsoever on the family members of those with close ties to the Cherokee County District Attorney. Comments on this blog and links to pictures of local battered women prove that even with broken bones, bruises and knocked out teeth, the district attorney's office, et al refuses to prosecute their buddies for domestic violence.

It is the prosecutor, not the victim, who makes the decision to move forward with formal charges. If there is sufficient evidence of domestic abuse then the prosecutor is mandated by law to file charges, even when the victim is pressured to change her story. The State is also required to issue orders of protection upon the petition of the victim; protection orders are enforceable across state lines according to federal law. The County Attorney's office can issue a temporary ex parte order of non-contact FIRST, prior to a formal hearing or even notifying the accused. Apparently that doesn't happen very often in Cherokee County. The Daily Progress is trying to Fool 'Em All Again.

The County Attorney's office continues the lament:

"cases in which the victim makes a claim of abuse and then recants it are a waste of taxpayers’ money because such claims result in law enforcement and state prosecutors wasting time, money and effort investigating a crime that is eventually dropped and never makes it to trial."

The only waste of taxpayer money is the dispatch of Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputy to a known wife beater's home to investigate a domestic disturbance call, booking and arraigning the guy, setting bond and then having the charges dismissed before the abuser's name hits the newspapers. It is the cover up that is a waste of taxpayers' money. The crime never goes to trial because the County Attorney's office drops the charges. Typically, Cherokee County would rather blame the victim.

The article concludes it contradictory misinformation:

"the message needs to be sent that the decision on whether a case will be tried is not just based on the wishes of the victim. As far as the state is concerned, if the evidence is there, we are going to prosecute the case.”

And if there aren't any victims as in the Robert Fox/House of Israel case, then what? How can you say you are prosecuting domestic violence when you drop the charges on 99% of the offenders? And cover up the fact that you embolden them to keep kicking their wives around because you simultaneously call the same closet wife beaters for jury duty?

The fact is jurisdictions outside the Good Ol' Boy network routinely prosecute domestic violence without the help of the forgiving victim. Family violence charges can be either a felony or a misdemeanor. Repeat offenders in Cherokee County never have to face the more serious felony charges when the abuse cases are wrongfully delayed or ignored all together by the court system. Domestic Violence is a serious crime and other counties outside Cherokee County aggressively prosecute spousal abuse to fullest extent of the law. And they are proud of it. The newspapers in these areas, such as Tyler, Houston and Dallas, educate the public in the seriousness of domestic violence instead of whitewashing the problem.

The local Cherokee County media wants everyone to ‘feel’ the truth, as opposed to actually reporting it. The District Attorney programs their state witnesses to testify under oath as to what they “know in their hearts” instead of what actually is reality. Family-owned news agencies planted at the root of the problem follow suit. The more absurd the argument, the more it must be true because they publish this nonsense in the local papers. Especially when they attempt to justify dropping domestic violence charges on their own nephews and cousins.

That’s why news agencies such as the Jacksonville Daily Progress cannot report on the arrest of the District Attorney’s favorite grand jury foreman, most devoted trial jury advocate, etc., etc. Instead they write about the punishment phase of non-relatives like 62 year-old Rusk resident Gary D. Helm, convicted back in October in County Court for Misdemeanor domestic violence. After throwing himself at the mercy of the Judge and refusing counsel, this defendant gets to face probation for using his girlfriend as a punching bag.

American satirist Stephen Colbert and anchorman of the fake news show “The Colbert Report” brought the word “Truthiness” into the mainstream, and “truthiness” is what passes as fact in Cherokee County newspapers. On one episode Stephen Colbert explains the meaning of “truthiness:”

"We're not talking about truth; we're talking about something that seems like truth – the truth we want to exist…”

“It’s not just that I feel it to be true, I need it to be true…”

You can’t prove a negative. The more absurd it is, the harder it is to prove it is false. This is a distraction technique practiced in the Cherokee County establishment to focus attention away from its blatant nepotism and corruption. And the local newspapers are the means by which they do just that.

It is also a good avenue for the DA's Investigator to get a buddy's kid off a felony gun charge, as in the Richard Cobb murder trial. The local newspapers reported the ongoing appeal process of the Richard Cobb/Buenka Adams homicide convictions, but left the part out how District Attorney Elmer Beckworth and Investigator Randy Hatch wrote a letter to the Parole Board to seek leniency for a parole violator with a gun / turned jailhouse snitch who spent time in lockdown with both defendants.

"Whatever you feel in your gut is more important than information itself. " Especially to the misogynist judicial system and media operating in Cherokee County Texas. It is only a matter of time that one of these violent S.O.B's they let off the hook kills his own wife like another jailhouse snitch named Michael Harris did in 2003. All because the District Attorney deems his courthouse informants/kinfolk too valuable an asset to be prosecuted. Especially if prosecuting their stool pigeons will result in exposing the same prosecutor. As long as the prosecutors' allies are allowed to get away with crimes against women, Cherokee County news reporters will continue to describe the prosecution of domestic violence as "a fairly uncommon legal occurrence."

In the memory of Jennifer Hester, Jacksonville, TX

Jacksonville, TX:
This post from the news article that ran in the Jacksonville, TX Daily Progress.
We post it here forever, for the taxpayers of Cherokee County, Texas. Local Jacksonville, Texas nursing school graduate Jennifer Hester was struck by a pickup and killed within her apartment complex. The grieving Hester family was told by the Jacksonville, TX police department and Cherokee County District Attorney that a "hit-and-run homicide could not be investigated on private property."
Elmer C. Beckworth, Jr. presented Jennifer Hester's death to a Cherokee County grand jury as an "accident" that she caused. The driver was No Billed. The Jacksonville Police Department continued the charade after the fact, claiming in the Daily Progress to seek "additional information."

Elmer Beckworth, et al has championed the death, that could have been prevented with one phone call, of Faye Bell Harris of Jacksonville, TX. Yet no offer nor the semblance of a formal grand jury investigation into the death of Jennifer Hester, mother and daughter. Elmer Beckworth even calls the incident"a hit-and-run" in his few statements to local media.
Because the greiving Hester family and friends of Jennifer offered no political clout, Beckworth refused to convene a real grand jury to question the driver of the hit -and-run. The individual was exonerated before the grand jury foreman signed the NO BILL. And of course, relatives and cousins were seated on the panel by a sympathetic District Clerk.
Any other county in the state would have, by law, convened a grand jury and at minimum, indicted the driver with Involuntary Manslaughter. The sentence could have been commuted. Only in Cherokee County, folks, only in Cherokee County. And hopefully the populace can catch Elmer Beckworth's faux paux of actually calling the accident a "HIT AND RUN" in the Daily Progress article. Hit and Run, but no indictment? If you accidently back into someone's car in the parking lot, the driver is legally liable. Human life is more valuable than a fender bender. Laws and penal codes are completely arbitrary when it comes to the allies of the Cherokee County Texas district attorney's office.

What if the driver had not been related to the grand jury foreman, and let's say, been an out-of-state driver who caused a minor accident?
REPRINTED HERE
From the Jacksonville Daily Progress:
in memory of Jennifer Hester
Editor’s note: Due to the high volume of letters received expressing grief over the loss of Jennifer Hester, who died as a result from a hit-and-run accident on Feb. 12, 2005, the Daily Progress staff is running all letters received to this point together here.
Remembering Jennifer HesterOne year ago today on February 12, 2005 Jennifer Hester lost her life. In one moment, the lives of all those that loved her were forever changed. Jennifer was a hard worker always striving to make her life and the lives of those she loved better. Most importantly she was a daughter, a mom, a sister and a best friend. Jennifer lost her life to the senseless, heartless and cowardly act of hit and run. No time for good byes no time for a last hug or kiss in a split second she was gone and so was the driver. Today we honor Jennifer for the woman that she was and all that she would have been given the chance. Remember her and honor her. If you didn’t know her, think of her as your mother, sister, daughter and friend.
I know the pain the Hester family suffers all to well, I lost my sister and best friend, Tina DeMuro to a hit and run driver on November 9, 2005. If you do not understand our pain, be thankful, I would not wish this pain on anyone. Let’s not only remember Jennifer today but rather let us all remember her everyday. She was a beautiful person who should still be with her family.Kelley Olivera, Wallington, NJ In memory of Jennifer HesterDaughter, Sister, Mother and Friend.Today will mark the one-year anniversary that Jennifer Hester’s life ended and the lives of her family and friends changed forever.Jennifer was a loving daughter, compassionate sister, nurturing mother and a great friend. She worked hard all her life to provide for her family and for herself. Everything she did in life was to be successful.
That is what Jennifer accomplished by finishing school and becoming a nurse and providing a life for her 3-year-old son Mason.On February 12, 2005 – Jennifer’s life ended by the hands of a hit and run driver. She was left to die in the streets of her hometown. She was taken from her family and friends without a goodbye or answers to questions that are still unknown today. Her son Mason – asks everyday about his mommy and Jennifer’s family has to explain that she is in heaven now. How does anyone take on that – to explain to a 3 year old little boy that his mommy is not here. His mommy will not be tucking him in at night or reading him a story. His mommy will not be teaching him how to ride a bike or getting him on the school bus for his first day of Kindergarten. Yes, Jennifer will see her little boy grow up – but the only way is to be looking down from Heaven. That is not fair to Jennifer or Mason.
Today – we remember Jennifer and who she was and through her son Mason – her legacy will live on. But we also remember that the driver that took Jennifer’s life – their life still goes on. They will see their children grow up and be able to hug their family and friends. This person has not been handed down a consequence for what they did. Everyone needs to remember – it could be your loved one, one day being taken from you and someone driving away. Stopping your vehicle and rendering aid is to only solution to an accident. Driving away – only causes more grief and pain that will never go away.I personally did not know Jennifer – but through a support group – I meet her family and friends.
My father was killed by a hit and run driver, November 14, 2003 and the person responsible for his death is still at large today. I know the pain that the Hester family is going through. Please remember Jennifer today and everyday – she was a wonderful person and would have made a world of difference in your community if only given a chance.
Thank you –Lisa MilesDaughter of Lawrence R. Skinner, Sr. (killed by a hit and run driver November 2003)
My heart goes out to Jenn’s family.I am writing this letter in regard to the upcoming one year anniversary of the death of Jennifer Hester. I never meet Jenn in person but I feel like I have known her all my life thru her sister Dana and her friend Kari. They miss her more than words could ever express. My heart goes out to all of Jenn's family and friends during this difficult time. My God bless them and the angels surround them with comfort and peace. We miss u Jenn.
Sincerely, Amie Nobles Navasota, Texas
A wonderful friend is missed. Words can not describe how unique Jennifer was. Jennifer is so talented, she could sing, play instruments write songs, and dance. But her best talent was raising her son. Jennifer was a wonderful loving mother. I miss our friendship so much, this has been a long hard year and I miss her beyond words. I miss talking to her everyday and laying in sun with her and our kids playing together. Jennifer is a wonderful person and she will never be forgotten.
Her son is Jennifer made over, all you have to do is look into his eyes and you see Jennifer, he is a comfort. February 12 will be one year since she was taken away and the pain is just as great now as it was last February 12th. I am writing this in honor of a wonderful mother, daughter, sister, cousin, and friend. I miss you so much Jennifer. Love you, Kari GroganOne year ago today someone made a choice that would affect the lives of an entire family and community, forever. One year ago today Jennifer Hester was left to die on the road as the person who hit her drove away. Jennifer was a dedicated mom to her 3 year old son Mason.
Jennifer raised Mason while putting herself through nursing school and had only been working at her new career for 3 weeks when she was struck and killed. On this, the one year anniversary of Jennifer’s death, we remember her. A mother, sister, daughter, friend. I did not know Jennifer myself. But I have met her family and friends through our shared grief, losing a loved one to hit and run. Having lost my nephew to this horrible crime, I know the path of devastation it wreaks. Somewhere there is a person who is living his or her life without consequence. But Jennifer does not have that opportunity, nor do her family, friends or most importantly her son Mason.
Jennifer is gone forever and that is a grief to the world, beyond words to describe. I would ask that each person remember Jennifer today. Think about your daughter, sister, mother, friend and how you would feel if one moment their life was held in someone else’s hands, and that person just drove away. Remember Jennifer today and every day.
Karen Paul, (aunt of Christopher Bascom, killed Nov. 2003 by hit and run)
Even the law students at UT have been conned by the slick wording of Propostion 4, co-authored by former State Senator Todd Staples (R, Palestine) and the Cherokee County District Attorney.
The UT Daily Texan reporter cited above erroneously reports that before Prop. 4 was voted in, a district judge could not revoke a defendant's bail:   "Previously, a judge could only deny bail to a defendant if he or she has violated specific conditions of bail: the accused has at least two prior felony convictions, the felony was committed while the accused was on bail, or a lethal weapon was involved in the felony."
This is has never been the case; a defendant could have his bail revoked and placed in custody for spitting on the sidewalk. After the third offense; Cherokee County never bothered to charge Michael Harris for his consecutive bond violations.
That is what the biggest lie that has been told by the sponsors. It is a complete fabrication, design to get support from the weak-kneed legislature. The lies are easy to swallow when they are based on emotion. And the lies are even easier to repeat.
The fact is not one finger was lifted to keep Michael Harris from killing his wife. Michael Harris was in Cherokee County custody while he sought drug treatment at the Rusk State Hospital. Faye Harris was ignored. The fact is Cherokee County orchestrated the murder of this women by deliberately not revoking her drug addict husband's bond, the first time he threatened to kill her AND definitely not the third time. The Texas Constitution did not tie the hands of Cherokee County. The Texas Constitution only ties the hands of the patently corrupt.
It appears to the outsider that the only way these people gain respect within their peer group is to concoct a lie, and the most people to repeat it, no matter how ludicrous and retarded.
Cherokee County's "narcotics" officers can pull over vehicles with broken tail lights and the district courts can confiscate the contents of the car with one phone call---
but they can't revoke a drug addict's bond to prevent a pending homicide.
The family of Jennifer Hester has placed a touching on line memorial in her honor.

Murder quota needed for small town prosecutor

Does a district attorney need to meet a quota of capital murder convictions to declare himself a "victim's rights advocate?" Simple trials, as the Richard Cobb case in 2002 can make a big impact in a small town.

And even easier to give yourself a "Law and Order Award" immediately afterwards.
According to Cherokee County District Attorney Elmer Beckworth, "juries pay attention to evidence and details."

What about the evidence that has been fabricated or tampered decade after decade in Cherokee County, Texas, a la Troup Chief of Police Chester Kennedy?
Veteran police officer Chester Kennedy was in East Texas law enforcement for 12 years, while he stole pistols from the Troup city hall. How many similar search warrants, grand juries and drug seizures has Elmer Beckworth, Chester Kennedy, et al sign off on, during Kennedy's 12 year tenure? In a town of 2000 in northern Cherokee County, it takes Smith County and federal agents to stop the blatant miscarriage of justice.

To stave off the stench of the corruption within his district, Todd Staples (R), Palestine and District Attorney Elmer Beckworth co-wrote and sponsored the meaningless "Faye Harris Amendment" otherwise now known as Proposition 4. East Texas is not known for championing the 4th Amendment, rather pulling the wool over the eyes of the populace.

This bill allows district attorneys to set the conditions and amount of bail, based on the nature of the accusation, without the messiness of waking up a district judge and having a hearing. Why not save the taxpayers some more money and just let Texas' district attorneys try murder cases in their heads, and forego the ruse of having an untainted/unbiased jury? Out of 20,000 registered voters, only a handful have served on Cherokee County grand and petit juries in the last 20 years. Small case load.
From 2002 to 2004 there have been only 2 murders committed in Cherokee County, the Vandeer case and the Faye Harris case. Larger counties like Travis, Tarrant and Harris counties see hundreds of murder trials in their respective district courts. Cherokee County has one or two every 2 to 3 years. And these murder trials are exploited by the locals to make it seem like they were living in the homicide center of the universe, instead of a drug dealing pile of microscopic sh*t.

As in the Faye Harris case in 2003, her estranged husband Michael Harris was repeatedly arrested and placed on bond for threatening to kill his wife. Arrested repeatedly, though his initial bond for a pending felony arson trial (Harris allegedly burned down his ex-wife's home) was never pulled by the Cherokee County district courts. Perhaps in hope that Harris would gun down his wife and the locals could again get their names in the paper for being 'victim rights advocates.' It's easy to prove murder in the first degree when the continual pleas from Faye Harris to "lock up her soon to be ex-husband" were deliberately ignored and his bond not rescinded.


Was it that Michael Harris was too valuable an asset to have arrested, being that he was seeking drug treatment at the Rusk State Hospital, under guard and escorted by the Cherokee County Sheriff Department? No reports of Michael Harris being a Confidential Informant for local law enforcement either. Habitual drug addicts face a revolving door sentencing process when they cop pleas with the district attorney's office.

Notice Beckworth had to take the case to another grand jury to get drug informant Michael Harris to cop a plea.

Every 6th grader knows that if the conditions of bail are violated, as in Michael Harris re-arrested for harassing his wife REPEATEDLY, not to mention his drug charges, then he would have been locked up the first time FOR VIOLATING HIS BOND. Bond would have been denied after he was caught spitting on the sidewalk. Does this impress the misinformed?
Knowing that a potential murderer is repeatedly attacking your daughter does not a Christian make, Mrs. Bell.

Your daughter would be alive if the Cherokee County district attorney's office was not more interested in keeping Michael Harris out of jail and on the streets of Jacksonville, than revoking his bail with one phone call to the district judge. Better to have a dead woman to champion, than a convicted drug addict not giving up his contacts to Cherokee County law enforcement. Maybe Michael Harris was one of bailiff Randal Thompson's dealers.

Only a county that corrupt would produce a district attorney so arrogant as to tell the world that he alone, found a "flaw in the Texas Constitution." With Proposition 4 still fresh in their East Texan minds, they have collectively butchered the Fourth Amendment. And they are eagerly waiting for the next Cherokee County homicide to grand stand on.