Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Judge rules biker, wife jailed with sufficient probable cause in Twin Peaks case
Waco Tribune-Herald ^ | August 17, 2015 | TOMMY WITHERSPOON

Posted on 08/17/2015 11:12:47 AM PDT by Prolixus

A visiting judge ruled Monday that Waco police had sufficient probable cause to jail a biker and his wife in the wake of the deadly May 17 shootout at Twin Peaks.

Retired State District Judge James Morgan denied a motion from attorney Paul Looney, who represents Brenham residents William and Morgan J. English, to clear them of engaging in organized criminal activity charges after a brief examining trial Monday morning.

In denying the motion, Morgan ruled that there was sufficient evideince to bind them over to a grand jury for indictment and that authorities had sufficient probable cause to arrest them.

Morgan has been given the authority to hear all of the 16 examining trials scheduled for the next two weeks.

Morgan is set to hear the case involving Cody Ledbetter at 2 p.m. Monday.

Morgan was appointed to hear the examining trial of Matthew Clendennen after the Hewitt man’s attorney, Clint Broden, was successful in having McLennan County Justice of the Peace W.H. “Pete” Peterson recused from hearing the case. Broden withdrew his request for an examining trial on Clendennen’s behalf last week.

Only two of the 177 bikers who were arrested on engaging in organized criminal activity charges remain in the McLennan County Jail, and the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office has been releasing some of its evidence to defense attorneys, so the examining trials don’t have the sense of urgency they did a few months ago.

Morgan, who will hear the examining trials in the courthouse annex visiting courtroom, has scheduled two hearings for Monday, two for Wednesday, three for Aug. 24, two for Aug. 26, three for Aug. 27 and three for Aug. 28.

If a judge rules there was not probable cause for the arrest, the defendant is freed from obligations surrounding his arrest, including conditions of bond. But it does not preclude the district attorney’s office from indicting the defendant later if prosecutors think they have a case.

The state’s burden of proof in examining trials is much less than in a criminal trial, in which a defendant’s guilt must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: waco
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 last
To: AMDG&BVMH

“The bikers had the cops outnumbered.”

“Quite so. Thanks for reminding everyone.”

But not out gunned and certainly not sitting behind the sights of a scope being held by a sniper.

Praying for true justice and those responsible for the order to murder innocent bikers are made to pay for their crimes. Secondarily; I hope those who followed this unlawful order lose their careers due to incompetence.

If I were a LEO in Waco I would be looking for another job. Even flipping burgers is better than being a puppet for some anarchist on a power trip.


41 posted on 08/17/2015 5:18:24 PM PDT by Boomer (Politically Incorrect and proud of it. "Live Free Or Die" is not just a slogan.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Cboldt

>>> Another patch identified them as members of a support group for the Bandidos, which Schwartz said has been identified as a criminal street gang. ... <<<

Those Waco Style Police are pure death on bad accessorizing.

It still looks to me like a two or three dozen fools got into a fight and the rest of the folks were arrested for violating the Waco High School dress code.


42 posted on 08/17/2015 5:35:07 PM PDT by JJ_Folderol (Just my opinion and only worth what you paid for it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: JJ_Folderol

Why would anyone put on a patch identifying themselves as part of a criminal gang ...

unless they were part of the criminal gang.


43 posted on 08/17/2015 7:07:22 PM PDT by TexasGator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: TexasGator

Their lawyer seems to imply that they feel safer kotowing to the Bandidos.


44 posted on 08/17/2015 7:09:42 PM PDT by USNBandit (Sarcasm engaged at all times)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: peyton randolph

OK, you signed up to scam any of those biker gangers out of whatever assets they may have had like the other “lawyer” ambulance chasers?


45 posted on 08/17/2015 9:46:01 PM PDT by X-spurt (CRUZ missile - armed and ready.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: X-spurt
you signed up to scam any of those biker gangers out of whatever assets they may have had like the other “lawyer” ambulance chasers?

None of them are clients (or former clients) and would turn down representation if asked (not area of law that I practice).

Hint - The ambulance chasers are 99% Democrats. Not one of those either.

46 posted on 08/17/2015 10:13:09 PM PDT by peyton randolph (I am not a number. I am a free man.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: peyton randolph

Good to hear.

What is your area of practice?


47 posted on 08/18/2015 7:35:56 AM PDT by X-spurt (CRUZ missile - armed and ready.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: X-spurt

International business law.


48 posted on 08/18/2015 7:43:50 AM PDT by peyton randolph (I am not a number. I am a free man.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: All

Pretty good job letting the POS fascist trolls talk mostly to each other today!


49 posted on 08/18/2015 10:55:55 AM PDT by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson