Indicted officials to be in court
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A judge is scheduled to hear pre-trial motions for four indicted city officials today.
Police Chief Bruce Ure, Lt. Ralph Buentello, former city attorney David Smith and Mayor Will Armstrong are accused of upsetting an investigation into charges a former sheriff sexually assaulted a teenage boy.
Ure, Buentello and Smith’s lawyers have filed motions to throw out their aggravated perjury indictments. The indictments aren’t clear about what lies the men allegedly told, according to the motions.
“The indictment of Bruce Ure must be set aside as it fails to charge the offense in ordinary and concise language in such a manner as to enable a person of common understanding to know what is meant,” according to a motion written by Greg Cagle, Ure’s lawyer.
Buentello is accused of lying about conversations with the man who said former sheriff Michael Lewis Ratcliff sexually assaulting him in 1997. Ure and Smith are accused of lying about whether they told an Advocate reporter they were concerned the Department of Public Safety and District Attorney Stephen Tyler covered up the investigation.
Ratcliff was Tyler’s chief of staff when he was indicted on charges of aggravated sexual assault.
Ratcliff last month pleaded guilty to aggravated perjury as part of a plea deal that visiting judge Mark Luitjen is considering.
Ure, Buentello and Smith’s lawyers have asked for evidence and notes from the Ratcliff investigation in their motions for discovery. They’ve also asked to see usually secret grand jury recordings.
The motions hearing will be at 1:30 p.m. in Judge Robert Cheshire’s courtroom.
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Could someone please explain to me how the local judges can refuse to hear the Ratcliff case but not this case? All this has to do with the handling of the Ratcliff case, right. Just wondering.
July 24, 2008 at 11:58 a.m.I'll take the Judge's opinion over the kangaroos on this court.
I agree....no matter what the opinion, I'm certain some side of this issue (I see several) a conspiracy will be assumed and attacked.
July 23, 2008 at 10:21 p.m.I'm sure Ms. Wilber's "report" will be interesting but who we're really waiting on is Judge Cheshire. His is the only "opinion" that matters.
I'm just as sure that whatever the Advocate reports will be ridiculed by whichever side it doesn't agree with but again, we'll have to wait for Judge Cheshire to do his research and determine if indeed there's any pork in *this* ham sandwich....
Ernie
July 23, 2008 at 9:39 p.m.Guess we will have to wait for Ms. Wilber!
July 23, 2008 at 9:25 p.m.Rather than "hear" their "take", I'd rather read the facts. I've read enough about some people's opinions and "takes".
Let's have the truth and not the opinion of the uninformed.
Journalism. Report. Not "TAKES"!
July 23, 2008 at 9:15 p.m.Yes'm.
July 23, 2008 at 9:06 p.m.Sorry South Texas Guy its changed... "You Sneaky Little ol thing" Ernie knows what i am talking about. Huh neighbor! lol
July 23, 2008 at 9:04 p.m.STXguy's right about the lawyers talking and the judge listening and he'll render a written ruling on all the motions by the end of the month.
I saw a bit more than that however.... Waiting anxiously to get the Advocate's take on the proceedings.
Ernie
July 23, 2008 at 9:04 p.m.The lawyers talked. The judge listened. Decision by August 1. Nothing out of the ordinary.
July 23, 2008 at 9 p.m.HI NEIGHBOR!!!
Hell i thought it would be breaking news and still nothing!come on VA!!!
July 23, 2008 at 8:47 p.m.Well...... what happened today? Where is the follow up?
July 23, 2008 at 8:41 p.m.