FORMER DA INDICTED ON STATE DRUG CHARGES

PAMPA, Texas A former West Texas district attorney awaiting sentencing on
a federal drug-related weapons charge was indicted Tuesday on state charges
alleging he intended to sell methamphetamine and cocaine.

The indictment against Rick Roach stems from his Jan. 11 arrest at the Gray
County Courthouse in Pampa where federal agents found two guns in his
briefcase. The indictment alleges he had methamphetamine and cocaine with
him that day and that he intended to sell the drugs.

Each charge carries a sentence of 10 to 99 years or life in prison.

Roach, who ran on a tough-on-drugs campaign in 2000 and was 11 days into
his second term at the time of his arrest on federal charges, declined to
comment Tuesday. His attorney, Bill Kelly, didn't return a message seeking
comment.

Special prosecutor David Scott, appointed to investigate Roach and the
office on state charges, said Roach's term as district attorney for five
Panhandle counties is still being reviewed.

"We're not done yet," he said. "Other matters are still being investigated."

The investigation includes an audit of Roach's office's finances,
particularly an account containing money seized in drug busts.

In federal affidavits, officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety
told the FBI they suspected Roach was converting seized money for personal
use and he was "obsessed" with money seizures. Roach even asked a DPS
lieutenant to order his troopers to focus on westbound Interstate 40
traffic, commonly known to be the direction of drug money, the affidavits
state.

The affidavit claims Roach was "very secretive" about seized money and the
accounts.

Also, U.S. Treasury Department transaction reports show Roach personally
made 25 cash deposits totaling more than $3 million between February 2001
and October 2003 into accounts controlled by his office. The reports show
two different birth dates and driver's license numbers for Roach, the
affidavits state.

After Roach's January arrest, folks in the Panhandle said his erratic and
aggressive behavior seemed worse over the past several months. But few
suspected drug use, even though he had dropped about 30 pounds and his skin
became sallow.

Roach told the New York Times in February that he had suffered from
depression from age 13, and that he used illegal drugs to medicate himself.

"I just sort of, you might say, went nuts: I made irrational and wrong
decisions," he told the newspaper. "There's no excuse. I've gotten what I
deserve."

Roach resigned Feb. 8, the same day he pleaded guilty in federal court to
the firearms charge. Three drug charges were dropped as part of the plea
agreement. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when
sentenced on the federal charges in coming weeks, federal prosecutor
Christy Drake said.

He initially faced federal charges of possession of methamphetamines and
cocaine with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of a firearm by a
drug addict.

Roach has been free on bond since early February, but wears an ankle
bracelet telling authorities if he goes further than 200 feet from his
mother's house in canyon.

Bond on each of the state charges was set at $50,000. Texas Rangers will
arrest Roach on the state charges, Scott said.

If convicted on state charges, Roach probably will serve his federal time
before going to state prison, Scott said. If sentenced on each state
charge, Roach's terms will run consecutively because the indictments allege
he was within 1,000 feet of a school when he had possession of the drugs.