13 CONVICTS TO BE FREED AFTER AGENT DISCREDITED

TULIA, Texas -- Thirteen people imprisoned on the testimony of a
discredited undercover officer were to be released today, nearly four years
after they and dozens of other mostly black residents were arrested on drug
charges. "It's been a long time coming but it's finally here," said Billy
Wafer, one of the 46 arrested in the 1999 sweep that capped an 18-month
undercover operation.

Wafer had an alibi, and his case was dismissed.

But 38 others were convicted on the uncorroborated word of undercover drug
agent Tom Coleman -- now under indictment on perjury charges -- or they
accepted plea agreements out of fear of lengthy prison terms.

Civil rights advocates have called the arrests racially motivated. Of the
46 arrested in the small Panhandle town, 39 were black. Coleman is white.

Coleman claimed he bought drugs from the defendants, but he worked alone
and used no audio or video surveillance. No drugs were ever found during
the arrests, and little or no corroborating evidence was introduced in court.

Today, 12 blacks and one Hispanic were to appear before State District
Judge Ron Chapman, who was expected to free them on personal recognizance
bonds while their cases are on appeal. Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill June 2
allowing for the releases; it could take as long two years for the Texas
Court of Criminal Appeals to rule on their cases.

The judge recommended that the 38 convictions be overturned and new trials
ordered, but a special prosecutor has said there will be no new trials.

Coleman, a contract agent for the Panhandle Regional Drug Task Force, was
indicted in April on three charges of aggravated perjury stemming from his
testimony during the hearings Chapman oversaw.