What I can't understand is how many of these preditors are still walking around. I have two children and if anyone did anything like this to them thier only chance would be if the police got to them first. Yes, I know the law but let a jury of twelve parents look me in the eye and convict me!

Now that is settled, back on topic! Glad to see that this perp got put away!

They are "investigators" because that is the term that the legislature has set up for peace officers employed at a DA office. Just a term, don't get so crazy on it. So if a "detective" gets a report are they only supposed to "detect" that a crime has occurred? A title is just that, everything else is in the job description. Besides, how can four investigators complete all of the work that DPS, VPD, VCSO, Texas Parks and Wildlife, TABC, Fire Marshals and the like do? Not realisitic, LBB.  Besides, four investigators for all of the individual courts is probably not even enough to serve all of the suboenas for all of those courts.  How many courts are there anyway, 5? 6?
 
Remember the beginning of "Law & Order"?

Maybe the DA needs 4 investigators because the VPD investigators can't (or won't) do their job? Just a thought....

Okay, I'll dive in.......be more specific, joe

Thats right and lots of you voted for one.

They should chop his BALL'S off and then shoot this peace of SHIT and anyone els who does this to a small child I have 3 girl's and 1 boy and it scare's me that there's sick fuck's out there in our town

Hey romonak
I always knew that it was law enforcement that was supposed to build their case (without any holes) and then send it to the DA for prosecution (know hear, "Dun Dun"). I thought that DA Investigators were merely there to serve subpoenas for cases going to trial and not to complete the work that law enforcement is charged with doing. I'm pretty sure that the fact that all DA offices in the State of Texas have investigators does not qualify law enforcement to not do their job. I guess that's why there are so many problems with the other trial!

Let me give you a little information -- I have a friend whose young dtr was sexually assaulted 2 years ago. The case should be a "slam-dunk" -- a SANE exam done immediately, a report filed with police immediately, and the suspect was known! The investigator has had 2 years to present it to the DA, but it hasn't been. For 2 years the poor victim has had to be afraid because the person who did this to her is still walking around free..... The mother of the victim has personally talked to Tyler who promised her that as soon as he got the case, he would personally review it. But as the investigator hasn't sent it to him, nothing has happened. So, yeah, sometimes it's the cops fault.

romonak..."rock solid slams"??? I guess you know that because you did your own investigation, interviewed all the witnesses, conducted cross-examinations of the defense witnesses, did your own forensic lab work, etc. etc. etc.???
And you do that for all the cases that are presented to the DA's office...so that's how you can make your independent determinations of which cases are "rock solid slams" and which are not?? Ever thought about selling your services to defense lawyers...that way they will know whether not to fight the case or try to plea bargain."
Also...Tyler's conviction rate is NOT 100%...I just said it was a high rate.  How does that little tidbit fit in with your claim of him taking only "rock solid slams"?
Rock solid slams"...LOL

Oh and southtexasguy...anyone can have a 100% success rate when they only bother with the cases that are rock solid slams. Too bad for the other victims...conviction rates are only based on the cases he ACTUALLY tries...doesn't have a thing to do with the ones he looks at and turns away.

God forbid he and his investigators actually get off their butt's to fill in the gaps on a less than rock solid case. Or maybe, try one that they aren't sure is going to go somewhere, but where the victim at least deserves the satisfaction of knowing the state tried....

mimi, in case you were unaware, there is such a thing called the "statute of limitations". Look in the code of crimnal procedure to read it in it's entirety. However, on sexual assault of a minor they have 10 years from the victim's 18th birthday to file, OR if there is DNA evidence on the suspect who is unknown, there is NO limitation.

Can you tell us of any one case you are aware of that it took investigators over 10 years to foward?

Are you aware that the DA's Office declines cases in which the offender actually confesses? You say "victim is not cooperating"...well, yeah, that happens a lot. In assaultive cases, the state has the option of picking up charges regardless of the victim's cooperation.

Now what?

One of the reasons that Tyler turns down similar cases is because of a myraid selection of reasons: 1. the victim refuses to cooperate. 2. not enough evidence - i.e. no DNA, no SANE. 3. The investigator, while performing his/her job, discovers exculpatory evidence, or finds the victim has lied. 4. Or maybe, just maybe, the investigators took too long in presenting the case to the DA's office.

Beenhereawhile, in your neighbors case, has the investigation concluded? Do you know if the case was presented to the DA's office? You'd be surprised at the number of cases that don't make it over there.

I'm not saying the police aren't doing their jobs, I'm just stating that it is possible that there are reasons for the delays.

Way to go southtexasguy! I agree with you!

beenhereawhile...If Mr. Tyler "blunders" his way through cases, how do you explain his high conviction percentage? And how do you know the case regarding your neighbor is "solid"? You have seen/read all the reports, personally evaluated all the evidence, interviewed witnesses, law enforcement, etc??
"Sitting" in a courtoom does not make you an expert on the law. It does not give you insight as to what goes on before the case makes it to the courtroom. Yes, you may have some social work background, but that's not LAW.
Again, let's give the DA and the law enforcement officers who investigated this case some credit.

Mracp I totally agree with you on beenhereawhile. Seems that they are off topic in this case and the advocate needs to remind them to stay on topic. If you cant understand the article it is about a young girl having her innocense taken away. Not ONE DARN THING about Tyler NOT GETTING THE JOB DONE. Beenhereawhile you need to get with the program. If you have a problem with Tyler why dont you go and take it up with him and leave the rest of out of it. Why do people feel the need to drag everyone else in to their unfulfilled lives. If everyone will leave everyone else alone the world would be a better place. I am sorry for my ranting but this is wrong!!!!!

Half an hour, what took so long??????

Mracp, I don't have to explain anything to you. I am still waiting on the sexual assault case of my neighbor's sweet little girl to be accepted (by Mr. Tyler's office). It's a good solid case.

EVERY single assault victim should get their day in court. BUT, so few sexual assault cases have made it past Mr. Tyler's office and into the courts. I wonder why that is?

I certainly don't blame it on the Police Department because many of these cases are investigated by the Sheriff's department. All of which I believe to be fine men & women doing a fine job.

It's no secret that I don't believe in Mr. Tyler's abilities. I've sat in on too many court cases since he took office to trust in him (my job requires me to do so - it's not recreational). I'm often shocked by how often he just blunders through the cases.

First, regardless of my personal feelings toward Mr. Tyler, I have to say that yes, he deserves a high five for getting this conviction and the sentenance of 50 years! But by the same token, the investigators who worked on this case, and dotted their i's and crossed their t's; performed a thorough investigation; did all the leg work and made the arrest deserve a high five as well.

There are issues, yes, within our county between the DA's office and VPD. And I've certainly changed my tune recently in that I think that it is time for all to back off and let Mr. Tyler do his job.

I also want to remind the people who are anti-VPD of 2 things: first, I don't know if Chief Ure and Lt. Buntelleo lied to the grand jury or committed any of the other acts they are charged with -- that will ultimately be decided by a jury in Judge Cheshire's Courtroom -- But please remember that there are officers working at VPD who should not be judged or criticized simply because of Ure... Those officers work for a living just like me and you. They are given "assignments" and follow orders.... so don't class the whole department as incompetent based on what your personal feelings about one.

The second thing I want to say is this: There is another law enforcement entity in this city/county -- who is to say that they are NOT the ones who worked this case.... don't jump to conclusions and don't assume.

Congrats Mr. Tyler!!! Thank you for prosecuting this case to the best of your ability and getting a pervert, sicko off our streets!

good.....that guy deserves that and more.......

I agree - good job on sending this guy away. We should make every effort to protect kids.

To beenhereawhile: Your comment indicates that you don't agree on giving kudos to Mr. Tyler on this case. Do you not agree with the decision to put this child molester away? I think you have some explaining to do. If you have a personal hatred for Tyler's work, so be it, but I think you made a mistake my mixing it in with the dialogue of this sexual assault case of a young girl. BIG mistake.

Read the story in today's paper about the DWI intoxication manslaughter trial going on right now and maybe you will understand why the DA's office rejects at least some of the cases and why other cases end up being dismissed.. VPD screws up the investigation. 
 

Tyler may have tried this case....still doesn't change the fact that there are a number of these exact types of cases which continue to get dismissed.

50 years for a 50 year old is a life sentence. It is actually a very light sentence, in my opinion. I pray the young child of 3 is able to forget this horror.

I spoke with a friend of mine at the courthouse. Tyler DID try the case himself, along with a new assistant district attorney. So...the kudos are deserved.
Did you actually think the Advocate would print Tyler's name in a story that might show him in a positive light???? The Advocate Editorial Board would not give a "thumbs up" to that!

So the name of the game is *IF* you can get a case to be accepted by Mr. Tyler, you might actually get a conviction! I see how this works now. Why in the world would anyone give kudos to Mr. Tyler unless he actually tried the case?

Outstanding job, Mr. Tyler!!! Another sick pervert sent away! Keep up the good work.