OUTGOING FRIO SHERIFF GETS OVER 10 YEARS ON DRUG, THEFT CHARGES

SAN ANTONIO -- Frio County's outgoing sheriff was sentenced Monday to 10
years and one month in federal prison on charges that he conspired to
distribute marijuana and stole federal money.

U.S. District Judge H.F. "Hippo" Garcia also ordered Sheriff Carl Henry
Burris, 53, to pay $5,920 in restitution.

Burris will also be placed under supervised release for five years after
completing his prison term, which begins on Feb. 15. Burris is free on
$50,000 bail until then.

Burris pleaded guilty in October to a charge of conspiracy to distribute
marijuana and one charge of theft of federal program funds.

Burris admitted that he kept more than half of approximately $11,700 that
one of his deputies seized around November 1994 and used it for personal
expenses, including a trip to Florida.

To cover up the missing funds, Burris said he took marijuana from the
sheriff's evidence locker and solicited another person to sell it. Burris
pocketed $5,300 from the sale.

Burris lost his re-election bid in November to Democrat Lionel Trevino, who
takes office Jan. 1.

Chief Deputy Alex Torres will probably fill the remainder of Burris' term,
Frio County Judge Carlos A. Garcia said.

The Frio County Sheriff's Department could not immediately be reached for
comment on Monday.

Authorities are still investigating the case, which involved the FBI, the
Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Customs Service and the Texas
Rangers.

"The corruption of any law enforcement officer is a tragic day for our
criminal justice system, particularly when it represents the corruption of
a high-ranking officer," FBI Special Agent in Charge Roderick L. Beverly
said in a statement.