READER TAKES TERRY MCEACHERN TO TASK FOR ACTIONS IN TULIA DRUG CASES

Terry McEachern's opponents aren't talking about Ruidoso and that's to
their credit. But they have also shied away from Tulia with the result
that most voters still don't understand Mr. McEachern's role in the
Tom Coleman fiasco. Permit me to set the record straight.

Mr. McEachern spent the better part of three years claiming that he
didn't know the truth about Coleman's woes in Cochran County until
most of the trials were history. He said it to reporters, he said it
in open court, and he said it to me. He lied.

In a deposition given before last year's evidentiary hearings in
Tulia, McEachern finally admitted that Sheriff Larry Stewart had
informed him about Coleman's legal problems before the Tulia cases
even went to the grand jury.

The district attorney shielded a grand jury from Mr. Coleman's dirty
laundry for fear that somebody might have a problem indicting
defendants on the word of a single witness with a reputation for
professional conduct and criminal deceit. Eighteen months of work
would have gone swirling down the drain.

In retrospect, that doesn't seem like a bad deal. Who wouldn't trade a
flawed 18-month narcotics operation for four years of region-wide
humiliation and infinite expense? An informed grand jury could have
foreclosed on a world of hurt.

Defense attorneys routinely file Brady motions requesting that the
prosecution disclose information beneficial to the defendant. Sitting
on a mountain of exculpatory evidence, McEachern repeatedly smiled and
swore he had nothing to disclose.

McEachern lied to eight Swisher County juries. In the trial of Kizzie
White, the prosecutor reminded jurors that the governor's office had
named Tom Coleman outstanding law enforcement officer of the year.
"That goes to the direct credibility," McEachern exclaimed. "The most
outstanding law enforcement officer of the year. If you can't believe
him, well then, who can you believe?"

Mr. McEachern repeatedly stated in open court that he had personally
reviewed the results of Coleman's background check. Mr. McEachern now
admits that he never asked to see the results of Mr. Coleman's
background investigation. What he didn't know couldn't hurt him.

Terry McEachern recently told the Amarillo Globe-News that he has
always "tried to represent the people and the people's beliefs."

I believe him. The prosecutor is betting that the people of Swisher
and Hale counties will wink at his lies because they share his warped
conception of criminal justice. The primary election will tell us if
he is right.

Alan Bean