Former tough-on-drugs prosecutor in Texas sentenced on drug-related charge

wfrv.com ^ | 06/01/2005 | Associated Press

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) A former tough-on-drugs district attorney was sentenced Wednesday to five years in federal prison on drug-related charges.

``I recognize that I used very poor judgment in everything I've done. What makes it onerous is that I was a public official,'' said Rick Roach, 55.

Roach campaigned hard against drugs in 2000 when he ran for district attorney in charge of five Texas Panhandle counties. He was re-elected in 2004 and was 11 days into his second four-year term when he was arrested at the courthouse for carrying two guns in his briefcase. Roach admitted he was addicted to methamphetamine.

He was sent to prison for unlawful possession of a gun by a drug addict. Charges of methamphetamine and cocaine possession were dropped in a deal with prosecutors.

U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson added 14 months to the maximum sentence called for in federal guidelines.

``The guidelines do not adequately address to the extent which you have betrayed the public trust,'' she told Roach.

[Onelifetogive]

...Rick Roach...

Who couldn't foresee drug charges coming his way???

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

LOL! I never thought about his last name until now!

[handy old one]

His family must be from Floriduh! With a name like that.

[Servant of the 9]

A man needs a little sumpin to keep the eyes open whan staying up all night workin to put them dope dealers in jail.

5 Years no parole is gonna be tough.
A former DA doesn't have a lot of friends on the inside.

So9

[Space Wrangler]

A former DA doesn't have a lot of friends on the inside.

Not to mention the fact that he is directly responsible for putting alot of those guys there to begin with. He will almost certainly be segregated. A five year sentence in gen-pop would be a death sentence for this guy.

[Integrityrocks]

"U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson added 14 months to the maximum sentence called for in federal guidelines"

They can do that? They should more often! Good for The Honorable Mary Lou!

[deport]

U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson added 14 months to the maximum sentence called for in federal guidelines.

---

Interesting to see how this additional time will play out... Looks like he may get a little time in a state prison also.

Former district attorney sentenced to five years in prison
Former 31st District Attorney Rick Roach was sentenced to five years in prison today on a federal firearms-related drug charge. He was sentenced on a charge of being an addict or unlawful user of narcotics and possession of firearms. He was ordered immediately to prison.
Roach was taken into custody after the sentencing by federal marshals. Roach still faces two state drug charges.

[porte des morts]

He was sent to prison for unlawful possession of a gun by a drug addict. Charges of methamphetamine and cocaine possession were dropped in a deal with prosecutors.

Am I the only one that wonders why he is considered more a risk to society for haveing guns than for being a self proclaimed meth addict?

[Mikey_1962]

Do you want to be the husband or the wife in this cell...

[jackieaxe]

Charges of methamphetamine and cocaine possession were dropped in a deal with prosecutors. They probably dropped the drug charges because the drug warriors are getting sick of answering the question of why 60% of our jails are filled with drug criminals.

[mwyounce]

I have a friend from Pampa, where this guy is from... we were talking the other day about the case. You know that most of the people he's prosecuted are going to be in that jail with him... I give him 3 months, tops.

[bigfootbob]

I believe the plea means he's an addict with weapons.

Is that written in the 2nd amendment?

[Servant of the 9]

A former DA doesn't have a lot of friends on the inside.

Not to mention the fact that he is directly responsible for putting alot of those guys there to begin with. He will almost certainly be segregated. A five year sentence in gen-pop would be a death sentence for this guy.

Well, he was a State prosecutor and he got Federal time, so it isn't a direct problem, but deadly enough.

So9

[porte des morts]

I am under the impression that the lesser charges are the ones plea bargained away. Why are the gun charges more severe than any meth charges. It also appears from the article, that the sole reason for the charge of an addict in possesion of firearms is a statement made by the defendant. If meth is the problem everyone knows it is, here is the classic guy to be an informer to help get the big drug dealers in a community. And yet that charge is pled away.(Also IMHO, the 2nd does not address felons at all, only people).

[RichInOC]

Yeah, but you wouldn't think "speed freak", would you?

[Lazamataz]

Why are the gun charges more severe than any meth charges.

Because -- trust me on this one -- you do NOT want an active tweaker in possession of a firearm.

I had the occasion to learn of one such person who, after being up for 12 days nonstop, no sleep, shot and killed his girlfriend "because she was a cop".

[porte des morts]

Ohh, you are 100% correct. I am just curious that the lesser charges are the drug charges. Also the criminal charge is for "possesion of a fire arm by a drug addict."(Not just tweakers, but you cigarette smokers too;)

[TKDietz]

He was a state prosecutor so when people went to prison as a result of his work they went to state prison, not federal prison. He does have pending state charges though and could possibly do some time in a state prison after he does his five years in the federal prison, although it's more likely that the state charges will be dropped or he'll plead to a sentence that will run concurrent with his federal prison time and he'll have satisfied that by the time he gets out of the federal pen.

He may still run across someone he had prosecuted in the past now in federal prison on new charges. Even if he doesn't, there are going to be some people there that hate him for what he has done. He'll probably need protection, but he could probably get that by being a jailhouse lawyer for people wanting help with their appeals and other legal matters.

[ncountylee]

He should be safe in a Fed prison camp but, if convicted on pending state charges - here comes bubba the new best frind of this bum (pun intended).