MORE THAN 30 WEAPONS FOUND AT DA'S OFFICE, HOME

When West Texas District Attorney Rick Roach was arrested at the Gray
County courthouse on methamphetamine charges, federal agents found two
handguns in his brief case.

A search of his courthouse office, home and an apartment, all in Pampa,
turned up 35 more guns, along with what appeared to be a stash of cocaine,
methamphetamine and marijuana, according to search warrant inventory lists
obtained by The Associated Press. The weapons included shotguns, revolvers
and semi-automatic pistols and rifles.

Federal prosecutor Christy Drake wouldn't discuss whether Roach owned the
guns legally, whether they were evidence from criminal cases Roach's office
handled, or why Roach had so many guns.

"The origin of those guns I can't really comment on, other than to say they
traveled in interstate commerce," Drake said.

Roach, who was elected in 2000 after running on a tough-on-drugs campaign,
is accused of possessing methamphetamines, possession of one ounce each of
methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to distribute, and unlawful
possession of weapons by a drug addict. If convicted on all counts, he
faces up to 51 years in prison and $2.5 million in fines.

Roach, 55, was arrested Jan. 11 after federal agents said they received
tips from witnesses who "are all in the law enforcement community and are
reliable" that Roach was allegedly involved in criminal activity.

A federal magistrate ordered Roach to an inpatient drug rehabilitation
center while awaiting trial. He has pleaded innocent to the charges.

Roach's attorney, Bill Kelly, said he hadn't talked to his client about the
weapons, but he believed Roach either had legal rights to them as a
prosecutor or legally owned them.

"A lot of people collect guns, and they're certainly not illegal in doing
so," he said. "This is hunters' country."

But David Holmes, an assistant prosecutor under Roach between 2001 and
2003, said he was surprised to hear so many guns were found at Roach's
home. "I never knew him to be an avid hunter," Holmes said.

The day Roach was arrested, FBI agents searched his office, home and an
apartment rented by the DA's office where Roach sometimes stayed.

At the office, agents said they found 20 handguns, a rifle and a shotgun; a
syringe; two digital scales and a zippered pouch containing suspected
cocaine, methamphetamines and marijuana. The pouch was found in an office
restroom used by Roach and other employees.