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A Zealous Prosecutor of Drug Criminals Becomes One Himself
New York Times ^ | February 14, 2005 | RALPH BLUMENTHAL

Posted on 02/16/2005 10:37:03 AM PST by Scenic Sounds

PAMPA, Tex., Feb. 9 - No one prosecuted the war on drugs in the Texas Panhandle more zealously than Richard James Roach. As the blustery and hot-tempered Republican district attorney for five counties overrun with methamphetamines, he had eked out an election victory in 2000 vowing a crackdown and was soon gleefully reeling off the harsh sentences he had wrung from juries: 36 years, 38 years, 40 years, 60 years, 75 years - even 99 years. "I think it's quite clear that the good citizens of this district are fed up with drugs," he said.

He had barely missed riding the issue to victory in an earlier race. "My campaign is centered around doing something with the dope dealers," he told a local newspaper in 1996, complaining that "it's kind of hard to fight drugs when you've got dirty law enforcement."

But of all the quarry brought down by drugs in the district's 4,600 square miles of achingly flat oil fields and cattle rangeland northeast of Amarillo, the biggest by far was the stunned figure clapped into handcuffs by F.B.I. agents in the Gray County courthouse here one morning last month: the $101,000-a-year prosecutor himself, Rick Roach.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: drugwarrior; govwatch; hypocrite; jackbootedthug; jbtgetshis; justdeserts; rinowatch; stillagoodman; warondrugs; wodlist
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To: Scenic Sounds

He is gonna think he is in the Hitler/pineapple scene on Little Nicky.


101 posted on 02/16/2005 2:13:02 PM PST by WindOracle ("The cup had WHAT in it?!?!" - Socrates)
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To: Scenic Sounds

What a dumb druggie.


102 posted on 02/16/2005 2:13:32 PM PST by k2blader (It is neither compassionate nor conservative to support the expansion of socialism.)
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To: bassmaner

Amen!


103 posted on 02/16/2005 2:14:45 PM PST by WindOracle ("The cup had WHAT in it?!?!" - Socrates)
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To: WindOracle
Instead of double, it's usually a one hundredth. A New Mexico judge is DWI and wrecks a state-owned vehicle, and gets treatment and two days in jail. The murderers at Waco and Ruby Ridge got promotions if they got anything at all.
104 posted on 02/16/2005 2:16:26 PM PST by coloradan (Hence, etc.)
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To: coloradan

Yep, and a cetain former president got nothing at all, besides disbarred, for commiting Felony Perjury before a Federal Grand jury. I for one did not really give a damn if he got his knob polished, but lying to a Grand jury? Once again, a govt official walks for a thing you or I would be in prison for.


105 posted on 02/16/2005 2:18:57 PM PST by WindOracle ("The cup had WHAT in it?!?!" - Socrates)
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To: coloradan

All the way down to the local level, this stuff stinks. We had two county deputies busted by the Hiway patrol... drag racing two brand new police cars down Hwy 71... they got two weeks suspension WITH PAY.


106 posted on 02/16/2005 2:20:26 PM PST by WindOracle ("The cup had WHAT in it?!?!" - Socrates)
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To: ClintonBeGone
I'd rather have the liberty our Founders died for.

You won't get it with drug legalization.

I try not to use any drugs at all unless you consider an antibiotic or some teas drugs. I don't even use Novocaine at the dentists office. I guarantee that you are a drug addict compared to me.

You and I have lost the Freedom to be secure in our homes and our vehicles because of the WOD.

You and I have lost the Freedom to conduct financial matters free of the prying eyes of the government because of the WOD.

You and I have lost the right to have unfettered legal representation in court because of the WOD.

You and I have lost the right to travel freely because of the WOD.

I guess I should be happy that I still have the right to bitch about the WOD, that is probably the only unfettered right we have left, but I am doubtful that we will have it for long.

You may like it that the government puts a gun to your head and takes your money so that it can oppress you.

I have nothing but pity and loathing for people like you that willingly give up personal freedom and rights.

107 posted on 02/16/2005 2:22:23 PM PST by LeGrande
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To: ClintonBeGone

"Don't worry . . . bones. You can still have your Viagra."

Sweet. Otherwise that would've been a pretty *stiff* penalty.

Bones


108 posted on 02/16/2005 2:35:03 PM PST by Bones75
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To: bird4four4; ClintonBeGone
116

The current way we determine the legal status of a drug is so inconsistently applied that it's a joke

 Sec. 812. Schedules of controlled substances

(1) Schedule I. -

(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.

(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

Please explain why Alcohol and Nicotine are not schedule I drugs

Pot has a low potential for abuse.  The US government supplies it to 7 people for medical purposes.  Why is it a Schedule I drug?

 

109 posted on 02/16/2005 2:35:10 PM PST by bird4four4
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To: WindOracle

I fully agree with your last two posts. If there isn't equal treatment under the law, there is injustice. And so long as that injustice exists, the fewer the number of laws, the less the injustice. It's one of the reasons I hold the positions I do.


110 posted on 02/16/2005 2:35:57 PM PST by coloradan (Hence, etc.)
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To: Scenic Sounds

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


111 posted on 02/16/2005 2:37:27 PM PST by Sir Gawain
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To: ClintonBeGone

Blah blah blah blah


112 posted on 02/16/2005 2:39:06 PM PST by Sir Gawain
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To: bird4four4

The paradox lies in the fact that Marijuana is not outlawwed for reasons of drug use.

The reason I believe this is because of the following facts...

1. Industrial hemp is bred for high seed and fiber yield.

2. Industrial hemp has such low levels of THC, that getting high is an impossability.

3. Industrial Hemp is EASILY visually distinguishable from "smoking grades" of hemp.

There are many big money interests who stand to lose vast amounts of money should hemp be legalized. Paper, timber, petroleum, pharmaceutical, and textile industies all benefit from the status quo.

Drug use of Marijuana is not the reason it is illegal... it is the EXCUSE.


113 posted on 02/16/2005 2:45:30 PM PST by WindOracle
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To: ClintonBeGone
I would rather have a drug free america.

At the cost of your medical privacy?

At the cost of your financial privacy?

At the cost of your physical privacy, with cops driving around with IR scanners peering through your walls?

Read my tag line. You send YOUR kid to die for narc-o-topia. Mine are going to graduate school, and then overseas to some non police state.

114 posted on 02/16/2005 4:03:55 PM PST by eno_ (Freedom Lite, it's almost worth defending.)
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To: Wolfie

Yeah...Karma's a harsh mistress...ain't she?


115 posted on 02/16/2005 4:06:31 PM PST by Vigilantcitizen
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To: ClintonBeGone
I would rather have a drug free america.

OK fine with me. Take all the soda, tea, coffee, chocolate, alcohol and tobacco off the shelves.

116 posted on 02/16/2005 4:13:53 PM PST by Vigilantcitizen
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To: Scenic Sounds
"...but injecting drugs in front of employees can in some cases be an early warning sign of a problem that is worthy of attention."

Classic. LOL.

117 posted on 02/16/2005 4:20:31 PM PST by patton (Matthew 6:6)
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To: ClintonBeGone
Making a bad decision could cost anyone their freedom depending on the circumstances surrounding it.He decided to give in to temptation and became a slave to the drug before he knew what hit him.I've seen a lot of people end up in jail for doing things like having a few drinks and driving that many people do.I'm not saying it's right but I know that I was lucky on a few occasions in my younger less mature days.
118 posted on 02/16/2005 4:38:06 PM PST by rdcorso (Liberals Save A Murderers Life & Demand The Innocent Be Aborted & Starved)
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To: Annie03; AntiBurr; Baby Bear; BJClinton; BlackbirdSST; BroncosFan; Capitalism2003; dAnconia; ...
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.
119 posted on 02/16/2005 4:48:38 PM PST by freepatriot32 (Jacques Chirac and Kofi Annan, a pantomime horse in which both men are playing the rear end. M.Steyn)
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To: ClintonBeGone
That should be pro-drug.

Y'know, with a little meth you would have caught that error before posting. Seriously, though, my dad's family is from Hereford and they've said this guy and his network are corrupt beyond the drugs. He copped a plea and I doubt he'll more than 18 months of soft time. Drug rehab, pay some fines and he's back in business. The meth industry out there is stunning.

Oh yeah, and thanks goodness it's illegal so our LEOs don't get corrupted by it. </ObligatoryLibertarianRemark>
120 posted on 02/17/2005 6:38:20 AM PST by BJClinton (Kinky Friedman for Governor: Why the hell not?)
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