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By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 24, 1996 - An interlocal agreement for hostage negotiator
services for the Reeves County Detention Center was approved at this
morning's regular Reeves County Commissioners Court meeting.
Items involving the RCDC took up most of the meeting, as commissioners
agreed to the contract with the City of Odessa Police Department in the
event any hostage incident should take place at the 650-bed prison.
"The Odessa Police Department currently has four individuals that are
certified for this type situation and one is bilingual," said RCDC
Warden Joe Trujillo. "David Montgomery with the Pecos Police Department
is also certified, but we would have to provide an interpreter for him."
"We haven't had this type situation at the facility, but we want to have
someone available to be prepared in case we ever do have this problem,"
Trujillo said.
In response to a question by County Judge Jimmy B. Galindo, Trujillo
said the Odessa negotiators are certified through the FBI, they are sent
to an academy, which includes six weeks of training.
Galindo said he asked the question to see if it was possible to send
individuals from Reeves County to such training and eventually have
someone at the facility qualified to deal with this type situation.
"We need to look into possibly getting someone from our own staff to get
certified," said Galindo.
The agreement is a mutual aid agreement, which means that they can ask
Reeves County to provide law enforcement assistance. "If we need them
they will assist us and if they need us, we will assist them," said
Galindo.
"This is at no expense to the county," said Trujillo.
"I think this is a great agreement and it's super that we're thinking
that far ahead," said Commissioner Precinct 1 Lupe Garcia.
Trujillo also updated the court on other proceedings currently taking
place at the RCDC.
"Training started this morning at the Reeves County Civic Center, for
disturbance control," he said.
The group will be attending classes at the center throughout the week
under special instructor Thomas Archibald.
"They will be in a classroom type situation this morning and throughout
this week will be either in a classroom or hands-on training," said
Trujillo.
"We're very enthusiastic about it and looking forward to the training,"
the warden said. About 30 individuals are attending the special
training, he added.
In other action, bond and oaths for members of the Reeves County Water
Improvement District #2 were approved. Members included, Alan Zeman,
John Rediger, Cecil Lee, Ismael Lara and John Paul Armstrong.
Surplus items at the Reeves County Detention Center were declared as
salvage items and will be advertised for sale. The items will be put up
for bids and the whatever is left over will be hauled to the landfill.
"The warden went out and inventoried the items and he has had some
inquiries about them," said County Auditor Lynn Owens. "We need to do
something with them and this is the best answer to this."
A lease agreement between RCDC and Ecolab of Odessa was approved. The
agreement is for leasing dishwashers from the company the facility
currently buys supplies from.
"We want to do it in a lease agreement and see how this works on a trial
basis," said Trujillo.
The agreement calls for a $160 deposit per machine and $125 per month.
"They have a person that they send out to fix them," said Trujillo.
A change order for RCDC security perimeter fencing project was approved.
"The change order is to include the gate overhead tract," said Galindo,
and was in the amount of $15,474.
New hires included, at the Reeves County Detention Center, Walter
Tarpley, $15,000 per year as a correctional officer; Anna Martinez,
correctional officer, $15,000 per year; Jeff Haile, correctional
officer, $15,000 per year; Michael Brannon, correctional officer,
$15,000 per year; Salvador Lozano, correctional officer, $15,000 and
Arturo Valeriano, correctional officer, $15,000 per year.
"Weren't we giving the employees who were already certified as officers
$17,000 instead of beginning them with $15,000," asked Galindo.
"I don't think we should start them off at $17,000 because then all the
employees who are receiving $15,000 will quit and then come back and say
they are already certified to start them at a higher pay," said
Commissioner Precinct 4 Bernardo Martinez.
"I just think that if we're going to do one or the other we should be
consistent," said Galindo.
Both County Auditor Lynn Owens and County Treasurer Linda Clark agreed
with Martinez and stated that employees should begin at one salary.
"They'll quit for two or three weeks and then come back and claim that
because they're already certified they should start at the salary of
$17,000," said Clark.
She told the court that several employees who had begun at the facility
at the lower pay had called her and asked her why they didn't start off
at more.
In addition to those hires, Isa Stamper was hired at the Juvenile
Detention Center on a part-time on-call, as needed bases at the rate of
$5.50 per hour.
By MARI MALDONADO
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 24, 1996 - In an incident similar to one that left several
vehicles damaged last Thanksgiving weekend, Pecos police arrested a
local man for his involvement in three accidents Friday night in which
seven vehicles were damaged.
Tomas Carmona, 46, of 915 S. Cherry St., was taken into custody by
police Friday for driving while intoxicated at the 1000 block of
Martinez Street, where his trail of damage ended.
Police said about 9:22 p.m. Friday, Carmona was driving a 1980 Buick
LeSabre, when he rear-ended a 1982 Dodge pickup, driven by Raymundo
Martinez, 37, who was stopped at the stop light, facing east, in the 100
block of Third Street.
Traveling with Martinez, was 6-year-old Brandon Ray Martinez. No
injuries were reported.
This incident was investigated Patrolman Michael Dominguez.
Police said Carmona left the scene, and while driving at the 200 block
of East 13th Street he hit the back of a second vehicle, a 1996 Pontiac
Grand Am, driven by Anthony Ray Lozano, 27.
Lozano followed Carmona from the scene of the second accident to the
1000 block of Martinez Street, where police said he struck three parked
cars and a utility pole, causing it to strike a fourth vehicle.
The vehicles were parked at the home of Lilia Zubia, whose car, a 1994
Chevrolet S-10 pickup, also fell victim to the Carmona's rampage,
despite being parked under a carport.
The police report submitted by Officer Olga Lopez, indicated that
Carmona failed to control the rate of speed at which he was traveling.
Lopez said after striking the first parked car in the front bumper,
Carmona proceeded forward and struck a 1991 Pontiac Grand Am, registered
to Blanca R. Baeza, in the rear panel. He then struck a 1990 Chevrolet
Silverado pickup, registered to Nolberto Zubia of Hobbs, in the rear
bumper before striking a pole to the carport, causing it to hit a 1995
Pontiac Grand Am, registered to Martin Muniz.
Bond on the DWI charge was set at $1,000 and met by Carmona early
Saturday. He was later picked at the corner of Fifth and Locust streets
on charges relating to the Martinez Street incident, which included a
citation by Lopez for having no insurance and failing to stop and render
aid.
A bond of $1,500 for the latter charge was set and a fine of $282 was
issued for the ticket.
Other investigating officers included Patrolman Juan Vasquez and Reserve
Officer Danny Dawdy.
By MARI MALDONADO
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 24, 1996 -Representatives from the Pecos Police Department
and other concerned citizens gathered Saturday afternoon to hear Senator
Phil Gramm's unveiling of legislation to protect children from sex
offenders.
Accompanied by his wife, Wendy, Gramm arrived at the Reeves County
Courthouse just after 12:30 p.m., where he greeted all who were present
for the briefing session.
The bill, which Gramm said is supported by President Clinton, is
entitled The Sexual Predator Identification and Notification Act of
1996. It extends statutes currently on the books in Texas to the federal
level, for persons convicted of a sex crime.
The Texas Law calls for:
- Mandatory registration prior to release;
- Mandatory notification of local law enforcement officials and local
communities in Texas;
- Statewide tracking for ten years after completion of probation/parole;
- First offense: 1 year prison term and/or $4,000 fine and
- Additional offenses: 2-10 years prison term and/or $10,000 fine.
Listings under the new bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee
on Friday, call for:
- Mandatory registration with FBI when crossing state lines. FBI must
ensure that local officials are notified of the presence of a sexual
predator;
- Nationwide FBI tracking of interstate movements, including tracking in
states with no offender registration laws;
- First offense: not less than 1 year prison and/or $100,000 fine and
- additional offenses: 2-10 years in prison and/or $100,000 fine.
The bill is based on the "Ashley Laws," established in Texas after the
1993 abduction of a Plano girl, Ashley Estel, who was raped and brutally
murdered by a known sex offender.
Speaking on behalf of the legislation, Police Chief Troy Moore said that
a similar local law exists, but this particular bill, "will tie up some
loose ends." Under the local statute, Moore said, that one person is
currently registered, "a seasonal worker."
"It's a very good law," continued Moore.
"You would be astounded at the number of them (sex offenders) that are
out there," Gramm told the crowd. He added that several of these types
of criminals cross state lines to, "avoid the system."
The senator said that in the future, with this new bill in effect,
listings of convicted sex offenders will be published in the Internet.
"This will deny them (sexual predators) the dark corner that they need,"
said Gramm.
"The best thing to do is put these people in prison and keep them
there," he continued.
"These people are a known menace," said Gramm, and added that the unique
thing about this type of criminal is that there is a very high rate of
repeat offenders.
He added that the cost of utilizing this new system will be one-third
the amount being spent by states who are applying a similar system.
"This is going to be a Godsend in terms of the investigating," said
Gramm. "I want to put the burden on the criminal, not law enforcement."
One audience member asked how many of sex offenders are in Pecos. Moore
answered, "about 10."
The bill is scheduled to go before the House sometime during the summer
and will take up to two years to be fully utilized.
The Pecos stop was one of several made it West Texas by Gramm on
Saturday. The Republican, who is seeking a third Senate term this fall,
also visited Fort Stockton and El Paso to discuss the sex offender law.
PECOS, June 24, 1996 - The Pecos Miniature Golf Course is open for the
summer, according to Town of Pecos City Health and Sanitation Department
secretary Armando Gil.
Hours that individuals may enjoy golfing out at the course are from
Tuesday through Thursday, 6-10 p.m. On Friday and Saturday hours are
from 6-11 p.m.
The course is closed on Mondays.
Fee for a round of golfing is $1.25 and a snack bar is provided on the
premises.
Films and other audio-visual materials available to public schools
through Region 18 Education Service Center may be requested for preview
by parents and other interested adults during a one-day review session
set for July 25.
The session is scheduled from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Center,
which is located at 2811 LaForce Blvd., Midland International Airport.
Parents and other citizens interested in requesting preview of
particular films from the collection maintained at the Service Center
should notify the Center at least five days in advance so the staff will
have time to check on the availability of the films and set up preview
rooms.
In the event a film is not available on the date requested, the person
making the request will be given a date on which it may be seen.
Persons wishing to request preview of the films may call Pam Winn, Media
Supervisor of the Eductaion Service Center, at telephone number
915-563-2380. The name of the films desired and the approximate time the
person will arrive at the Center should be given to Winn.
By MARI MALDONADO
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 24, 1996 - Thanks to local law enforcement agencies, Fort
Stockton authorities were able to identify the man believed to be
responsible for the shooting death of a store clerk last summer in that
town.
Jose Ybarra Dominguez, 32, of Fort Stockton, was arrested March 16 by a
Pecos police officer for theft under $50 and possession of a firearm.
The weapon confiscated by local police was a .25 caliber semi-automatic
pistol. Remembering the July, 1995, Fort Stockton murder case, Reeves
County Sheriffs Department personnel contacted Fort Stockton authorities
after receiving a description of the weapon.
The gun is believed to have been used in the shooting death of Amelia
Carrillo, who was working as a clerk at the Quik Stop Grocery Store on
East Dickenson Boulevard during the late night hours of July 21, 1995.
Her body was discovered by Fort Stockton police behind the counter after
a customer contacted them through their 9-1-1 line in reference to a
suspiciously empty store.
Dominguez was released from the local jail soon after his Pecos arrest,
while the firearm was picked up by Pecos County Sheriff Bruce Wilson and
Larry Jackson, of the 83rd District Attorney's office, and taken to the
Texas Department of Public Safety lab in Austin.
A ballistics report showed that the bullets from the confiscated handgun
matched those taken from Carrillo's body 11 months earlier.
Dominguez was then brought in for questioning and reportedly confessed
to the crime during the interrogation, which ended last Wednesday.
A longtime resident of Fort Stockton, Dominguez was arraigned Thursday
morning before Pecos County Justice of the Peace Robert N. Gonzales. His
bond was set at $75,000 and he was charged with capital murder.
The charge was rendered due to the fact that the murder was committed
during a robbery and a capital murder conviction carries a possible
death sentence.
The investigation involved the cumulative efforts of the Fort Stockton
Police Department, Pecos County Sheriff's Office, 83rd District
Attorney's office, Texas Rangers, Austin-based Mobile Crime Lab, Texas
Department of Public Safety, in addition to the Pecos Police Department
and Reeves County Sheriff's Office.
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 24, 1996 - Reeves County, its detention center and staff are
once again defendants in a civil damage suit set for jury trial this
week before Senior Judge Lucius Bunton.
Three former inmates of the Reeves County Law Enforcement Center claim
they were severely beaten on July 19, 1993 after warning staff members
that the beating had been planned.
Joshua Edigen, Adebayo Yaya and Olu Akhigbe, natives of Nigeria, said
the beating by 20 Hispanic inmates occurred as they left the outdoor
recreation area and walked inside the 520-bed prison housing federal
inmates.
Armed with baseball bats and knives, the Hispanic inmates allegedly gave
the black men such a severe beating that two lost a testicle, all had
damaged kneecaps, one suffered a stab wound, one reported a broken
pelvis and two fractured wrists, and all had severe bruising.
Court records indicate that Hispanic-on-black beatings had occurred
previously, and one Hispanic inmate had warned blacks that the July 19
beating was planned.
Edigen, et al, claim they told LEC officials about the threat and asked
for protection and transfer to another prison. Nothing was done.
Judge Bunton set docket call and jury selection for 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Eight criminal cases are on the docket, and two of those may go to jury
trial, court sources said today.
Since criminal cases have first priority, the civil suit may have to
wait a day or two for trial.
One case on the criminal docket involves a local defendant, Jeffrey
Allen Lindsay. He is charged with possession with intent to distribute
marijuana.
Two sentencings are set for noon Tuesday.
By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer
PECOS, June 24, 1996 - A ton of cocaine sitting at the Presidio County
Fairgrounds in a horse trailer owned by that county's sheriff brought
down the sheriff and his cohort in a massive drug-smuggling ring four
years ago.
The sheriff, Rick Thompson, is serving a life sentence in federal
prison. His partner, Robert Chambers, apparently made a deal with the
government for a shorter sentence.
Court records on that deal are sealed, and at least one publisher has
been stymied in his efforts to learn the details.
Alpine publisher Jack D. McNamara filed suit in federal court Friday
seeking agency records on the narcotics conspiracy that he believes
began in 1986.
McNamara filed a request Oct. 14, 1994 with the U.S. Department of
Justice for all documents concerning the operations and prosecution of
Chambers and Thompson.
Offices maintaining those records would include the U.S. Marshals,
Immigration and Naturalization Service, FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency,
U.S. Attorney's offices and other offices maintaining liaison with other
law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies.
INS did not respond, the FBI and DEA denied McNamara's request on
privacy grounds, and the marshals office reported no records.
McNamara appealed to the co-director of the Office of Information and
Privacy in Washington D.C. in April, 1995, but again was denied.
"Release of material covered by this request would go a long way toward
dispelling public distrust and dissatisfaction at the inability of
federal authorities to enforce the laws of the U.S. over the decade of
Chambers/Thompson activities," McNamara wrote in the appeal.
The blanket and general assertion of privacy is improper, he said.
"These men are convicted felons and Chambers has received a reduction of
his life sentence for cooperation. What cooperation?" he asked.
DEA agents said in a press release after the men were arrested that
Chambers/Thompson smuggled 10 tons of marijuana and cocaine between 1986
and 1991. McNamara wants to know when, where and how that was done.
"It is certain that Chambers in his Mexican actions always claimed he
was an agent of the U.S. Government at one level or another," McNamara
said.
In a synopsis of Chambers' alleged activities, McNamara says Chambers
raided the Ojinaga, Mex. jail and abducted a man accused of rape in
Brewster County, and was also allegedly part of the 1987 raid on a
Mexican village that killed druglord Pablo Acosta. Thompson also
allegedly participated in the raid, which McNamara said opened the
Ojinaga drug routes to Colombian cocaine traffickers.
Chambers was registered in 1990 as an informant for the U.S. Border
Patrol, while at the same time smuggling tons of narcotics, McNamara
said.
Those records and others concerning federal seizure of Chambers'
property following his arrest are among those McNamara is seeking.
McNamara publishes the NIMBY News and has said he is working on a book
about Chambers and Thompson.
Logan Cole Womack, infant son of Leslie and Greg Womack of Pearl, Miss.,
died Thursday, June 20, 1996 of a chromosomal defect. Services will be
at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Southside Church of Christ in Peoria, Ill., with
burial in St. Mary's Cemetery.
Survivors include the parents, one sister, Rosemary Elizabeth Womack of
Pearl, Miss.; maternal grandparents, Lyle and Rosemary Wade of Peoria,
Ill.; paternal grandparents, Art and Caryn Womack of Madison, Miss. and
Dale and Elizabeth Corbell of Barstow.
Services for Tomas M. Dominguez of Fort Stockton were at 10 a.m.
Saturday in Templo Triunfo de la fe in Fort Stockton, with burial in
Easthill Cemetery. He died June 20, 1996 in Odessa Medical Center.
He was born Dec. 29, 1923 in La Union, Coahuila, Mex. and was a ranch
laborer.
Survivors include his wife, Sarah Lopez Dominguez of Fort Stockton;
three sons, Daniel Dominguez of Houston, Raul Dominguez and Rogelio
Dominguez, both of Fort Stockotn; six daughters, Hilda Falcon, Rosa
Esquivel and Dalia Cedillo of Fort Stockton, Oralia Cantu of Fort Worth,
Maria Yolanda Raygosa and Orvilia Acuna of Odessa; one brother, Julian
Dominguez of Visalia, Calif.; two sisters, Susanita Atayde of Del Rio
and Elodia Atayde of Saltillo, Mex., 25 grandchildren and four
great-grandchildren.
PECOS, June 24, 1996 - High Sunday 101, low last night 73. Tonight,
partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms. Low in the lower 70s.
Southeast wind 5-15 mph. Chance of rain is less than 20 percent.
Tuesday, partly cloudy with isolated afternoon thunderstorms. High in
the upper 90s. South wind 5-15 mph. Chance of rain less than 20 percent.
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