Terry County DA Tipped Off to Officer's Shady Past, Did Nothing
By: Nick Ochsner
Updated: October 10, 2012
Court documents show Terry County District Attorney was tipped off to the shady past of Brownfield Police Detective Darrel Williams as much as a year ago.
A partial transcript from the criminal trial of The State of Texas v. David Lee Rodriguez, heard in January 2011, shows a defense attorney brought up Williams' outer from the Kermit, TX Police Department then.
According to the transcript, defense attorney Russell Gunter tried to admit a 1995 newspaper article about Williams' resignation as evidence in order to question Williams' credibility as a witness.
There's no indication in the court transcript as to whether or not the article was ever shown to jurors.
But the transcript does confirm Terry County District Attorney Ramon Gallegos was shown the article and presented with the accusations.
So KAMC Investigates went to Gallegos' officer Tuesday afternoon to ask why he never acted on the information-- which could have put the credibility of one of the town's chief investigators in jeopardy.
Gallegos declined to sit for an interview but said he never took any further action because no charges were filed over accusations Williams had sex with a 14-year-old girl multiple times.
A Texas Rangers investigation report shows the allegations are supported by the victim and at least two of her friends. The report also says Williams failed a polygraph test where he denied having sex with the girl.
Gallegos also said Williams' license was never revoked by TCLEOSE--the state organization that licenses peace officers. Gallegos pushed back against a document filed with a Brownfield judge last week proving Williams' license was indefinitely suspended in 1995.
A partial transcript from the criminal trial of The State of Texas v. David Lee Rodriguez, heard in January 2011, shows a defense attorney brought up Williams' outer from the Kermit, TX Police Department then.
According to the transcript, defense attorney Russell Gunter tried to admit a 1995 newspaper article about Williams' resignation as evidence in order to question Williams' credibility as a witness.
There's no indication in the court transcript as to whether or not the article was ever shown to jurors.
But the transcript does confirm Terry County District Attorney Ramon Gallegos was shown the article and presented with the accusations.
So KAMC Investigates went to Gallegos' officer Tuesday afternoon to ask why he never acted on the information-- which could have put the credibility of one of the town's chief investigators in jeopardy.
Gallegos declined to sit for an interview but said he never took any further action because no charges were filed over accusations Williams had sex with a 14-year-old girl multiple times.
A Texas Rangers investigation report shows the allegations are supported by the victim and at least two of her friends. The report also says Williams failed a polygraph test where he denied having sex with the girl.
Gallegos also said Williams' license was never revoked by TCLEOSE--the state organization that licenses peace officers. Gallegos pushed back against a document filed with a Brownfield judge last week proving Williams' license was indefinitely suspended in 1995.
