A Zealous Prosecutor of Drug Criminals Becomes One Himself

New York Times ^ | February 14, 2005 | RALPH BLUMENTHAL

[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.

[bassmaner]

What makes one insane is advocating for legalization of drugs.

Dissidents were considered 'insane' during the Brezhnev-era Soviet Union, and routinely carted off to mental hospitals for 'treatment'. IIRC, the father of the Soviet H-bomb Andrei Sakharov was given such 'treatment' for daring to criticize the socialist order.

If anything, it's the act of doing the same thing over and over (communism *or* drug prohibition) and expecting different results ("from each according to his abilities to each according to his needs" *or* the ephemeral "Drug-Free America") that truly is insane - a trait that Drug Warriors like yourself who claim to be conservative and hard-core Communists have in common.

[thoughtomator]

Yeah, Mr. Drug Warrior, what results have you to show for the billions and billions spent on the War on Drugs? How are we any better off than before we spent those billions?

[eno_]

What would be healthier for America?

a) A government with as small a slice of GDP as before the New Deal (but drug laws would have to go to the states)

b) A DEA narc on every block comittee and enough snitches, no knock raids, and property siezures to actually win the Drug War.

Which America would you rather have?

[Wolfie]

Beats me. From another article:

And state troopers alleged that Mr. Roach offered them Rolex watches and other incentives to emphasize money seizures in drug cases. State law allows such funds to be split between the law enforcement agency and prosecuting attorney's office.

At the time of his arrest, authorities said, Mr. Roach – alone – controlled bank accounts with at least a half-million dollars in seized drug money.

None of the federal charges against Mr. Roach involved financial misconduct. It is still possible that Mr. Roach could face state charges, though no decision is expected until after Gov. Rick Perry appoints a successor.

Federal and state prosecutors declined to discuss the specifics of their investigation, including how Mr. Roach began using methamphetamine – or how he got it.

[Scenic Sounds]

From this article:

Government officials said they had also been investigating him for pornography and weapons possession - two guns were in his briefcase when he was arrested on Jan. 11, and 35 others were found in his home and office, along with stashes of drugs. Officials also were looking into his handling of millions of dollars in cash confiscated from drug traffickers along the Interstate 40 corridor that skirts the sparsely populated counties of Gray, Wheeler, Roberts, Hemphill and Lipscomb, where only 33,500 people live, fewer than 8 per square mile.

[headsonpikes]

It's NOT justice.. it IS fascism, but that's all the WOD is anyway. A fascist scam designed to make criminals and corrupt officials fabulously wealthy and powerful at the expense of sick addicts.

Although I would quibble at 'designed', and point out that society at large pays half the freight, at least - addicts are not victims - your post pretty much summarizes the actual state of affairs.

Moneyed interests massage the laws to protect the existing cash flow - that's a fundamental truth of politics. Laws affecting the WOD are no exception to this rule.

Mao would call it, "Socialism with American characteristics." ;^)

[maine-iac7]

He was ill, he said; drug addiction was an illness, "but there's no defense for taking an illegal substance to treat mental illness." "Who in their right mind would inject themselves in front of an employee?" he said.

So, what do you think his defense is going to be ;o)

[ClintonBeGone]

Which America would you rather have?

I would rather have a drug free america.

[Wolfie]

I would rather have a drug free america.

I'll drink to that!

[Cultural Jihad]

. . . clapped into handcuffs by F.B.I. agents in the Gray County courthouse . . .

Punishing corruption by government officials is not at all an indictment of our system, but rather proof that it works.

[Know your rights]

a) A government with as small a slice of GDP as before the New Deal (but drug laws would have to go to the states)

b) A DEA narc on every block comittee and enough snitches, no knock raids, and property siezures to actually win the Drug War.

Which America would you rather have?

I would rather have a drug free america.

I'd rather have the liberty our Founders died for.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

What makes one insane is advocating for legalization of drugs.

Abusing prescription drugs is a-o-k, though, right?

[fella]

Sounds more likely that he was eliminating competition.

[Scenic Sounds]

So, what do you think his defense is going to be ;o)

Well, Mr. Roach doesn't need a legal defense anymore. From the article:

Last Tuesday, in a deal with the United States attorney's office, Mr. Roach pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while using illegal drugs, a charge that could send him to prison for up to 10 years and carry a fine of $250,000 when he is sentenced in coming months. Three other drug charges were dropped. He also resigned the office to which he had just been elected to a second four-year term.

As for an explanation, I think Mr. Roach would probably acknowledge that he was developing a problem with drugs and that it was threatening to interfere with his work.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

drug dealers who try to get kids hooked on drugs.

Why is it that Drug Warriors who claim to be conservatives never tire of the "it's for the children" argument?

[Know your rights]

What makes one insane is advocating for legalization of drugs.

Were those who advocated an end to Prohibition of the drug alcohol also insane?

[Know your rights]

Why is it that Drug Warriors who claim to be conservatives never tire of the "it's for the children" argument?

They've confused conservatism with hating liberals; the former, but not the latter, is inconsistent with embracing liberal principles.

[Bones75]

"I would rather have a drug free america."

No prozac? No viagra? No Sominex? No Sudafed? No Vicodin?

Is that what you mean? or an America free of the particular drugs you happen not to like?

Bones

[Know your rights]

a country free of drugs, drugs users, drug pushers and legalization advocates. That is freedom.

Wrong. Consult a dictionary.

[ClintonBeGone]

Abusing prescription drugs is a-o-k, though, right?

Is it? Not in my book. I've been one of the few voices on the Rush Limbaugh threads calling for him to stand and accept punishment for whatever drug related crime he may have committed.