Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Judge: Prosecutor Has 'Substantial' Stake in Waco Biker Case
Source: Associated Press
Judge: Prosecutor Has 'Substantial' Stake in Waco Biker Case
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WACO, Texas — Aug 7, 2016, 12:54 PM ET
A federal judge has questioned whether the Texas district attorney prosecuting bikers arrested in a deadly melee outside a Waco restaurant last year has a conflict of interest.
The Waco Tribune-Herald reported Sunday ( http://bit.ly/2b5iQ4D ) that U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks said the prosecutor has a "substantial interest" in the case because he's being sued by some of the 154 bikers who were indicted after the May 2015 shootout.
The gunfire between bikers and police outside a Twin Peaks restaurant left nine people dead and 20 others injured.
McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna is opposing efforts to disqualify him.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WACO, Texas — Aug 7, 2016, 12:54 PM ET
A federal judge has questioned whether the Texas district attorney prosecuting bikers arrested in a deadly melee outside a Waco restaurant last year has a conflict of interest.
The Waco Tribune-Herald reported Sunday ( http://bit.ly/2b5iQ4D ) that U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks said the prosecutor has a "substantial interest" in the case because he's being sued by some of the 154 bikers who were indicted after the May 2015 shootout.
The gunfire between bikers and police outside a Twin Peaks restaurant left nine people dead and 20 others injured.
McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna is opposing efforts to disqualify him.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-prosecutor-substantial-stake-waco-biker-case-41183733
_______________________________________________________________________
Source: Waco Tribune-Herald
Federal judge suggests DA Reyna has conflict in Twin Peaks cases
Posted: Saturday, August 6, 2016 5:56 pm
By TOMMY WITHERSPOON
A federal judge hearing civil rights lawsuits filed against McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna and others by bikers arrested after the Twin Peaks shootout suggested the bikers’ criminal cases can’t proceed until Reyna is replaced because of a conflict of interest.
U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks made several references during a pretrial conference in Austin that seemed to question whether Reyna, as a defendant in the civil cases, has a financial interest at stake and should be disqualified from prosecuting criminal cases against the bikers.
Fifteen bikers arrested along with more than 160 others after the deadly May 17, 2015, brawl at Twin Peaks have filed lawsuits in Sparks’ court claiming they unlawfully were arrested and jailed under $1 million bonds with no justification or evidence of wrongdoing.
Eight of the 15 plaintiffs are not among the 154 bikers who have been indicted on identical engaging in organized criminal activity charges, and three of them contend in their lawsuits that they hadn’t arrived in Waco yet when the shootout occurred.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Posted: Saturday, August 6, 2016 5:56 pm
By TOMMY WITHERSPOON
A federal judge hearing civil rights lawsuits filed against McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna and others by bikers arrested after the Twin Peaks shootout suggested the bikers’ criminal cases can’t proceed until Reyna is replaced because of a conflict of interest.
U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks made several references during a pretrial conference in Austin that seemed to question whether Reyna, as a defendant in the civil cases, has a financial interest at stake and should be disqualified from prosecuting criminal cases against the bikers.
Fifteen bikers arrested along with more than 160 others after the deadly May 17, 2015, brawl at Twin Peaks have filed lawsuits in Sparks’ court claiming they unlawfully were arrested and jailed under $1 million bonds with no justification or evidence of wrongdoing.
Eight of the 15 plaintiffs are not among the 154 bikers who have been indicted on identical engaging in organized criminal activity charges, and three of them contend in their lawsuits that they hadn’t arrived in Waco yet when the shootout occurred.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.wacotrib.com/news/twin-peaks-biker-shooting/federal-judge-suggests-da-reyna-has-conflict-in-twin-peaks/article_27ca5067-14ce-5ddf-a841-372f54c11d83.html