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Dallas DA's Office Examined

By TChris, Section Misconduct
Posted on Sat Feb 19, 2005 at 02:11:45 PM EST
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by TChris

Bill Hill has had some problems during his six years as Dallas County's district attorney.

•Fake drugs: He and the DA's office continue to struggle with the fallout from the 2001 scandal in which police informants planted fake drugs on innocent people. Prosecutors were slow to recognize that the criminal cases were based on bogus evidence. Two plea deals were accepted even though prosecutors knew the evidence was fake.

•Fruitless investigation: A long investigation into a jailhouse contract awarded by former Sheriff Jim Bowles resulted in several indictments, but all were legally flawed and eventually were dropped or dismissed.

•Delayed justice: A judge twice dismissed charges against notorious child molester David Wayne Jones because the district attorney's office violated his right to a speedy trial. The prosecutor in the case said he was too busy working on other cases.

Hill's remedy for this dysfunctional office? Hire a spokesperson!

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    • Dallas DA's Office Examined | 2 comments (2 topical)
    Re: Dallas DA's Office Examined (none / 0) (#1)
    by jimcee on Sat Feb 19, 2005 at 04:58:39 PM EST
    In Oneida Co. NY there is a settlement case going on as we speak involving false charges and conviction of a former jail guard who was accused of the murder of a prostitute and his DNA was found at the scene. He was in his thirties she was sixteen. The bottom line is he didn't do it and someone else confessed to the crime after his trial and sentencing. They had to release him, no need to say. The two detectives that ran the case "decided" to retire after the truth came out. The DA still has his job and the City/County gov't have been given a gift in the settlement of only $120,000. I get the feeling that this guy thought he had found a "hooker with a heart of gold" and wanted to "save her" and I believe he tried to do that and was crushed by her death and the subsequent trial that falsely convicted him. I can't honestly believe that he would settle for so little, I woundn't have but perhaps he is truly heartbroken by the whole thing and he just wants the whole thing behind him. Either way it shows that even with DNA testing and a jury trial that things can go horribly, sadly wrong.

    Re: Dallas DA's Office Examined (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Feb 26, 2005 at 12:42:40 PM EST
    Federal case against Dallas police officers and Dallas County jail supervisors set for jury trial April 4th, 2005, before US District Judge Jane Boyle. For details see www.federalcaseagainstdallas.4t.com. Thank you, (s) Daniel Montes, Jr. PLT, 512-392-5276.

    Dallas DA's Office Examined | 2 comments (2 topical)