EX-DRUG AGENT'S BACKGROUND QUESTIONED

A former undercover officer whose testimony helped round up nearly 40
black people in a small, predominantly white farming town had a
history of unprofessional conduct and mental problems, a task force
leader said.

Tom Coleman's former employers had informed the Panhandle Regional
Narcotics Trafficking Task Force that he needed constant supervision,
was a discipline problem and tended to run to his mother for help, Lt.
Michael Amos testified Tuesday.

"We knew there were a couple of things we needed to discuss about Tom
Coleman's background before it was decided to hire him," Amos
testified. He said Coleman, 43, had explained that he had marital problems.

Coleman's uncorroborated testimony led to prison sentences for many of
the 46 people arrested in drug busts in the small town of Tulia. Of
the 46, 39 were black. Civil rights groups have claimed the busts were
racially motivated.

Coleman himself was charged with theft and abuse of power during his
18-month investigation; those charges were later dropped.

Tuesday's evidentiary hearing came in the appeals of four men
convicted in the 1999 drug bust and sentenced to as much as 90 years
in prison.

Their convictions were upheld on direct appeal, but the Texas Court of
Criminal Appeals asked the trial court for clarification on whether
the men were convicted solely on Coleman's word and whether the state
failed to turn over information that may have impeached his testimony.

Coleman, who is no longer a police officer, worked alone in Tulia,
about 60 miles north of Lubbock, and used no audio or video
surveillance. Little or no corroborating evidence was introduced
during the trials.

Coleman declined to comment Tuesday, but he and Swisher County Sheriff
Larry Stewart and district attorney Terry McEachern have denied
allegations of racial bias and stand by the arrests and
convictions.

In all, 16 of those arrested in the 1999 bust remain in prison.