TASK FORCE KNEW ABOUT AGENT'S PAST

Official Testifies in Tulia Hearing

TULIA -- Before Tom Coleman was hired to work as a lone undercover agent in
Tulia, officials with the Panhandle's regional drug task force knew he had
a troubled work past, a former supervisor testified Tuesday in an
evidentiary hearing involving four people convicted in 1999 drug busts.

Coleman's uncorroborated testimony led to prison sentences for many of the
46 people arrested in the Tulia drug busts. Of the 46, 39 were black. Civil
rights groups have claimed the busts were racially motivated.

The convictions of the four men, whose sentences ranged from 20 to 90
years, were upheld on direct appeal.

However, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals last year asked the trial
court for clarification on whether Jason Jerome Williams, Christopher
Eugene Jackson, Freddie Brookins Jr. and Joe Moore were convicted solely on
Coleman's word.

The appellate court also asked the trial court to determine whether the
state failed to turn over information from Coleman's background that may
have impeached his testimony.

Coleman declined to comment as he stood outside the Swisher County
Courthouse smoking a cigarette. He was expected to take the stand Thursday.

In January 1998, Coleman's previous law enforcement employers told Sgt.
Jerry Massengill of the Panhandle Regional Narcotics Trafficking Task Force
that Coleman was unprofessional, had possible mental problems and a temper,
needed constant supervision, was a discipline problem and tended to run to
his mother for help, Lt. Michael Amos, Massengill's supervisor at the time,
testified.

"We knew there were a couple of things we needed to discuss about Tom
Coleman's background before it was decided to hire him," Amos testified.