[John Alexander Wood], a well-connected man pleaded guilty to murder - for shooting an unarmed prostitute in the back - and also got 10 years of probation. The killer proceeded to break the rules by, among other things, smoking crack cocaine. He repeatedly failed drug tests. He was arrested for cocaine possession in Waco while driving a congressman's car, but prosecutors there didn't press charges.

Judge Dean has let this man stay free and, last year, exempted him from most of the usual conditions of probation. John Alexander "Alex" Wood no longer must submit to drug tests or refrain from owning a gun or even meet with a probation officer. He's simply supposed to obey the law and mail the court a postcard once a year that gives his current address.

You have to read the whole article. It is just unbelievable. There's details of Brown's sentencing proceeding. His lawyer didn't object to the life sentence and now can't recall the case. Either can his appellate attorney. Then there's this:

Mr. Hathaway, the robbery victim, knew nothing about the case's outcome until contacted recently by The News. He, too, was astounded.

"Goodness gracious," he said in a phone call from Virginia, where he now lives. "You have got to be kidding me. ... Nobody touched me at all."

And more unequal justice from Judge Dean:

Meanwhile, Mr. Brown's co-defendant, Lewis Bivins, also got in trouble while on probation - he pleaded guilty to car theft. Judge Dean sent him to boot camp and let him return to probation. Only after Mr. Bivins committed two further crimes - burglary and another robbery - did the judge send him to prison. He, too, is now serving a life sentence.

The judge won't comment, saying the cases could come before him again. He should comment and recuse himself from further participation in either case -- or take an early retirement.

Texas needs to let Mr. Brown out of jail. I hope he gets some good legal assitance.