EX-DRUG COP GETS PROBATION FOR FABRICATING EVIDENCE

A former undercover narcotics officer convicted of fabricating evidence and
record tampering was sentenced to five years' probation Wednesday.

The Wilson County jury that found Albert J. Villarreal guilty recommended
he receive the lightest possible punishment.

District Judge Fred Shannon also sentenced the Poteet man to 300 hours of
community service, defense attorney John A. Longoria said.

"I literally heard a big sigh of relief," he said of his client's family's
reaction to the sentence, which included probation terms ranging from 180
days to five years on all five charges, to be served concurrently.

Villarreal, 33, had faced up to 10 years in prison on a charge of
fabricating physical evidence, a third-degree felony.

He also was convicted on two charges of tampering with a governmental
record, state jail felonies, and one charge each of abuse of official
capacity and official oppression, both misdemeanors.

He was acquitted on 19 other charges, including a witness tampering charge.

Prosecutors charged during the two-week trial that Villarreal abused his
position as a narcotics agent with the 81st Judicial District Narcotics
Task Force and racked up an impressive number of drug busts by trumping up
cases.

The district attorney's office will not prosecute cases filed by Villarreal
that are still pending, District Attorney Lynn Ellison said. Cases in which
defendants already have pleaded guilty or no contest will stand unless new
information suggests they should be reviewed, she said.

Assistant District Attorney Carrie Moy said she was glad the guilty
verdicts will prevent Villarreal from serving as a peace officer.

Alvin Scheffler, jury foreman, said the jury convicted on those charges
with strong evidence but believed 13 months in jail awaiting trial was
sufficient.

"We did feel that (Villarreal) and his family have been punished enough,"
he said.

Despite receiving a light sentence, Villarreal likely will appeal the
guilty verdicts, Longoria said.

Villarreal was indicted in September 2001 on more than two dozen charges.

He had worked with the task force, which operates in Atascosa, Frio, Wilson
and Karnes counties, since September 1999. Commissioned by the Wilson
County Sheriff's Office, he was fired after his indictment. He was released
from jail Wednesday.