mylibertydispatch.blogspot.com

LCSO Press Release - Oklahoma Relief Information

2013-05-21T16:10:00.001-05:00

LIBERTY COUNTY: I have been contacted by concerned citizens who want to help the victims of Moore, Oklahoma with food, clothing, food for their animals, etc., after the devastating tornado that struck their area and have killed and injured so many of their residents,

Upon contacting the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department in Oklahoma at (405) 321-8600, I was advised by their Public Information Officer, Megan McCormick, that the town of Moore is in “lock down” mode and nobody is allowed into that area. However, the Sheriff’s Department has their Command Center set up on the Home Depot parking lot at Telephone Rd. and 19^th. Street in the City of Moore, and all donations can be brought to that location for distribution at this time. There is a POSSIBILITY that as time passes, there will be a different site established but in this early stage, this is where all rescue and relief activities have been set up.

Sheriff Bobby Rader of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department wishes to thank all our citizens whose hearts are going out to those victims in their time of need.

For additional information and any future changes in operations, please contact the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department at the above number.

Capt. Ken DeFoor

Public Information Officer

Liberty County Sheriff’s Dept.

Sheriff’s office celebrates National Police Week

2013-05-20T20:00:00.002-05:00

The week of May 12-18, 2013, is recognized as National Police Week. It is a time to reflect on the public servants who gave up their lives in the line of duty and to show appreciation for those still in service to the public. The Liberty County Sheriff's Office, represented by the deputies and command staff pictured here, is under the direction of Sheriff Bobby Rader.

By HCN Cleveland

No "Little" deal.

2013-05-19T20:00:00.000-05:00

If you haven’t heard why some of most recent criminal cases in Liberty county's recent history go unpunished, it is time to get clued in. The lack of action by former District Attorney Mike Little over the last few years and his sales pitch that citizens of Liberty County can depend on federal prosecutors has allowed two of the most well known crimes in recent Liberty County history go unpunished, while at the same time charges against political enemies are trumped up and prosecuted by the DA’s office. If you wonder how long this has been going on think back to the hateful treatment and prosecutorial discretion Little ramped up on former Mayor Scott Parker while allowing illicit drug sales and trafficking to sky rocket in Liberty County. We have a theory on why Little allowed the drugs, we will reveal that later, and he wasn’t alone.

More recently, Mike Little allowed the statute of limitations to expire on the Beausoliel mail theft case without exercising any power he had as the man we have paid a couple of million dollars over the years to be the prosecutor of Liberty County justice. Well that is not quite true – he did exercise his power of “prosecutorial discretion” as he sat on his hands and never brought one charge in a case that anyone who reads local media probably felt was going to result in some butts landing in prison.

The FBI agent assigned to the case said it should be “An easy case for your local district attorney to prosecute” but the fact the courthouse mail room was not an official federal post office left the feds out of it. But Mike Little not only failed to act on behalf of the citizens of this county, some speculate he helped stop the 2012 Liberty County grand jury in its tracks.

Last, but surely not least, Mike Little behaved much the same in the infamous FEMA fraud case. It is now said to be dead in the water. Why? – Some might ask… But the answer to that question is only complicated when trying to guess what the federal prosecutors are thinking. It is not complicated when considering what local prosecutors could have (and should have) done.

But just for a minute let’s throw a new thought out there about the FEMA fraud case. We have a new District Attorney and we have new allegations against one of the commissioners that served with former County Judge Phil Fitzgerald. Newly elected D.A. Logan Pickett has at his disposal clear evidence that former county commissioner Todd Fontenot illegally charged repairs for his personal vehicle to the county. Why not take a shot in the dark and offer Fontenot a deal. If he has evidence to re-energize the FEMA case, a plea deal could be in the works. If Fontenot is like Sergeant Schultz and “knows noooothing” then show people what happens when a public official violates the public trust. There are more violations of the law in Fontenot’s paper trail and this is no minor mistake… it is a crime.

It may be far-fetched, but if a deal on the Fontenot case could be pulled off it would be a win-win for the citizens of this county. It would save the expense and the embarrassment of another local scandal and it would announce the end of the Mike Little era where little was done about crimes committed by the F.D.A. - “Friends of the District Attorney”.

Heeeeeeeess's Baaaakkk...

2013-05-15T01:09:00.003-05:00

(click pic to enhance) Courtesy Cleveland Advocate

In the middle of an issue that many have mixed emotions about, guess who shows up at the courthouse to weigh in on the matter? Three guesses and the first two don’t count.

If you guessed FEMA Phil Fitzgerald, you are right! FEMA Phil showed up at the last commissioners’ court meeting as the EMS bids rolled in. Phil=Bids... Amazing, in’t it?

Many of us are happy to see every line item of the budget come under review and a “No stone unturned” search for ways to save taxpayer money approach. Since many of us also want to be mindful of doing what we can to support people and companies that are local, this has become a tough issue for us and for our elected officials.

So who should be the last person to show up and support one side or the other? FEMA Phil, the man that single-underhandedly eliminated the possibility of any local people or companies from getting some of the FEMA clean-up work because he and his brother-in-law and a friend wanted to cash in on the more than million dollar pay day. Yes sir, FEMA Phil is the perfect person to put our elected officials on the spot to do the right thing. Since ole Phil did neither – he spent taxpayer money like a drunken sailor (Remember the purchase of the old WalMart building!) and he was more likely to wheel and deal to his buddies than give people in our community a fair shot at county business.

Liberty Dispatch will not say which side FEMA Phil supported. We don’t want people to change their minds to make sure they are not supporting another of FEMA Phil’s schemes.

Stay tuned for the Fitzgerald Walmart fiasco story...

FONTENOT: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

2013-05-14T23:29:00.000-05:00

Tell the truth long time residents of this county. When you found out former county commissioner Todd Fontenot had charged repairs to his own personal vehicle to Liberty County, didn’t you expect him to take some kind of action that would be followed by excuses and law enforcement to drop it all.

Well, if you thought that, you were right about Fontenot. But there is a different Sheriff in town and his buddies like Lee Groce and Phil Fitzgerald are no longer in power. True to what some of us predicted, Fontenot has offered up a reimbursement to the county. He did offered the reimbursement after Liberty Dispatch posted a story telling the public that he committed a crime when he charged repairs to his vehicle to the county. But it gets worse.

While Fontenot was trying to plant evidence to influence law enforcement to either keep from charging him for his crime, or could to influence a jury if he goes to trial. But let’s set the record straight. A timeline of events reveals Fontenot was told what he had done was illegal back in November 2012 while he was still commissioner. He did nothing until Liberty Dispatch’s story appeared before the public.

His second effort to sweep this under the rug is to lay something out there for the good ole boys to call this a simple mistake with no criminal intent is just as lame as his waiting six months to try and reimburse the county. Fontenot is claiming he does not remember the rules governing county commissioner vehicles changing. He has wondered allowed whether he was absent for the meeting in which that took place. Records of the minutes of county commissioners’ court clearly show Todd Fontenot was not only present in January 2011 when the rules were changed, Fontenot is the commissioner who seconded the motion.

What difference did it make whether this man remembered the rules change when he was caught red-handed and still did nothing to correct his wrongdoing?

Worse than that, it is mind-boggling to know that until about three years ago Fontenot, Groce, and others had rules that allowed them to charge repairs to their personal vehicles and reimburse the county. It may cause all of us to wonder how many times they never got around to reimbursing the county over the years. And the policy stands out because most of us are employed at places that would ever allow such a practice. But not Todd Fontenot… he works for the taxpayers and this is what they allowed themselves to do for years.

No one should be surprised that this unusual policy stopped soon after Craig McNair was elected County Judge. It appears that Fontenot is expecting that he can claim to have been in some kind of Neptune fog and charged hundreds of dollars to the county just like he did in the good ole days and we will all just sigh and say that is okay.

Congratulations election winners!

2013-05-13T22:04:00.004-05:00

Dayton ISD Winner

Larry Wadzeck            423 votes

Dayton City Council

John Johnson               271 votes

Liberty ISD

Lloyd Pierce                 289 votes

Hull Daisetta ISD

Anthony Eaglin            159 votes

Hardin ISD

James Bubba Campbell 331 votes

Hardin City Council

Lana Webb                        30 votes

Over fifteen years since the first sexual assault of a child- Justice Denied...

2013-05-13T21:12:00.001-05:00

Nearly five years after the two adopted daughters of Edward Ross Shauberger gave heart wrenching statements to the Liberty Police Department about how their adopted father violated them sexually, the now grown women will get their day in court. It appears as if all that needed to happen for the Liberty Police Department and these two to get their case in front of a Liberty County grand jury was for former District Attorney Mike Little to leave office.

Rumors that the last Liberty County grand jury that served while Little was the District Attorney were looking into Edward Ross Shauberger’s actions were only fueled by the sudden announcement by Little’s office that that grand jury was disbanded without explanation. Nevertheless, speculation continues that all of Edward Shauberger’s legal problems never seem to end up before a grand jury because of his friendship with Mike Little that was developed years ago while Shauberger finishing his education as a paralegal by working for a very new and very green District Attorney Mike Little over 25 years ago.

Additional rumors about Shauberger’s involvement with former Sheriff Henry Patterson and alleged wrongdoing in the last Sheriff’s administration only complicate matters.

The first Liberty County grand jury convened after Mike Little retired ended any dependence on rumors and speculation to guess about whether any testimony about Shauberger and sexual abuse had reached the Liberty Police Department (LPD). Shauberger was indicted by the first grand jury serving with newly elected District Attorney Logan Pickett. To D.A. Pickett’s credit Little’s henchman Dan Bradley has had nothing to do with this case and a jury of twelve finally got to hear what the LPD is said to believe is an almost air tight case against Shauberger sexual assault of his daughters.

Some will be quick to point out that justice delayed is justice denied, but we applaud Pickett for not standing in the way of giving these two grown women, and possibly others, their day in court. At one point some of us started to believe that Shauberger’s relationship to Little and Little’s relationship to Bradley left him untouchable by our courts. Now rumors that some in the D.A.’s office (or some among their advisors) stalled the grand jury from indicting Shauberger falsely claiming the statute of limitations had run will never be substantiated for sure because of secrecy rules governing grand juries.

Fast forward to last Saturday, Shauberger while recently indicted- bailed out of the Liberty County Jail on two $25,000 bonds, a small amount for two counts of a series of sick sexual acts on a child.

His guilt or innocence can now be fairly determined by a judge and jury and hopefully prosecutor Logan Pickett. If Pickett chooses to pass the case on to his assistants Assistant District Anne Streit may be the best choice with her experience and passion for child abuse and sexual assault cases and no connections to the very active defendant.

It is assumed by everyone Liberty Dispatch has agreed that the best thing the justice system can do to prevent any further rumors of scandal and the best thing to validate the rights of the adopted daughters of the defendant is to fast track this case and make it a priority. A case that should have been brought to justice more than five years ago but for Mike Little’s selective prosecution in order to attack his political enemies.

Math, Politics and Freedom.

2013-05-13T00:05:00.002-05:00

Generation after generation of it being drilled into Americans heads that they are “free” has resulted in some real counter productive thinking everything from world math rankings to whom wins elections.

Think back on your junior high and high school experience and your own love for math. A handful of people liked math and some even loved it (enough to invest great amounts of time and effort into thinks like geometry physics, and trig), but most would rather leave it than take it. As you might remember some of those who hated it were not good at much of anything in school except maybe P.E. and lunch. But… some who hated math avoided it and argued with anyone who tried to push them to do it that they would never use what they were teaching in math. Right or wrong, these people (a large group for sure) refused to be told what they would spend their time thinking about.

This problem with math in the United States and its effects on our world rankings could be fixed without all of the state tests and the push for raising math grades. Students that excel and love math can be awarded for pursuing the subject to its highest degree while those who hate it should only be required to take what is practical for someone who does not intend on working at a job where upper level math is required. The incentives to excel should be studied and enhanced, while the time others have freed up by not pursuing it should be used more wisely.

The idea of asserting our freedom to think about what we choose to is much more destructive and dangerous when used to avoid politics than math. Not knowing the history of our country and the price paid for freedom and electing bad politicians and passing bad laws is the very thing that could cost our freedom some day. Ignoring criminal behavior in politics or voting for candidates that spend us into a debt too large to repay could end the legacy of self-determination the United States has had since its inception.

Liberty County History-

One of the biggest problems with this is that politicians do not mind turning off voters – as long as the voters that “turned off” tend to vote for the other side. In Liberty County this has been one of the main firewalls of the good ole boy system. When you have been in charge as long as the leadership of the Liberty Democrats were (over 100 years), whenever someone challenges your despotism you just label them troublemakers.

It is simple to silence your competition you just say things like, “There wasn’t much of this unpleasant public debate before these Republicans started causing trouble.” Or, “can’t we just work together.” Or label anything negative as personal and dirty politics… Liberty County Democrats created a political atmosphere in which they chose the officeholders to put on the ballot and therefore they chose who had the power. That is a recipe for crime if it goes on for too long without a challenge. If that is a gauge of past Good Ole Boy Liberty County crimes, they are guilty as charged, open and shut.

Fortunately for this county, in the last two decades enough people were willing to endure the cost of change and, in the last two elections, enough voters saw the destructive consequences of our county continuing to vote for one party. Now all that is left to do to get a fresh start and fix the problems caused by decades of good ole boy leadership.

Some of the people that have seemed to hold power forever are not giving up and rolling over. They still want to control everything from juries to how taxpayer’s money is spent even as fewer and fewer of them are elected to office. They will no longer control things from the apparatus known as the Liberty County Democrat Party, but they will try and depend on that idea of freedom that causes some to hate math and some to hate politics.

Stay tuned in and keep helping us clean up the mess.

Never give up 'hope'...

2013-05-09T22:44:00.001-05:00

Courtesy KSHN:

"Missing not Forgotten: The amazing story that came out of Cleveland, Ohio, has led to thoughts of those local families who are quietly surviving their own missing loved one. In August 1997, Jessica Cain, formerly of Liberty, was last seen along I-45 in Galveston County on her way to her parent’s home, then in Tiki Island. Moving forward from ’97 to 2002, a Liberty woman, Patricia Small, was reported missing. Liberty police say they have not had any solid leads or evidence in Ms. Small’s case in the years since her disappearance."

In light to the Ohio kidnapping and recovery, parents should realize that loved ones who are missing can be found. Parents of the lost or missing should never give up 'hope'.

Definition of 'Hope':

archaic : trust, reliance

a : desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment

b : someone or something on which hopes are centered

c : something hoped for

Shauberger Brought Back to Liberty County Justice

2013-05-09T21:32:00.001-05:00

Liberty County Sheriff's Office Mugshot of Edward Ross Shauberger 05/09/13

05/09/13- Edward Ross Shauberger adds another mug shot to the collection as Bexar County officials turn him over to the transport team from the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.

Shauberger will stand before the District Judge of the^75thCourt Friday morning in a case that was true billed by the Liberty County Grand Jury a few weeks ago as they heard testimony from at least two accusers. At a minimum the former three time candidate for Texas State Representative will be the defendant against allegations of two of his adopted daughters for sexual assaulting them when they were still children. More specifically, Shauberger is accused of “Intentionally or knowingly causing the penetration of a sexual organ” by two of his three adopted daughters. Both women are now adults.

Friday morning will be the public's first opportunity to even hear about a case that the Liberty Police Department has been prepared to go to trial with for almost five years.

There are rumors that Shauberger’s youngest adopted girl reported to CPS that she suffered a similar fate as her two sisters years later in Liberty and Chambers County. Efforts to confirm or deny other witnesses will come forward have failed at this time. It is assumed there will be further investigation because of the space in time Shauberger has roamed free before this case finally came before a grand jury.

Stay tuned for more details….

The president called...

2013-05-05T23:31:00.000-05:00

At the end of President Obama’s reign will be difficult to choose which of his actions was the most memorable for the harm it did this country. We might have to categorize them and give each one a full review and an opportunity for more than one to be recognized.

The last few days reminded some of us that even though this President seems like he is on television 24/7, he is actually doing more harm behind the scenes. This week he helped the gay community wear those who believe in the Bible down even more than he has in the past. He called the pro basketball player and confirmed what gay activists wanted confirmed- coming out of the closet makes you “a hero”.

Besides the fact we have really ruined the word hero with stuff like this, we should all be left to wonder why the President of the United States would call a man to congratulate him for telling the world he has sex with other men. It is beyond most of our abilities to understand.

But the liberals understand it. They may not understand that the Bible is God’s word and He warns His creation that a man shall not lie with a man and a woman shall not lie with a woman, but the President has some twisted way of claiming to be a Christian and endorsing behavior like homosexuality and abortion.

When his time is over, this phone call will be hard to forget. And it will be one of many this country will have deal with and counter if we want to survive the cultural wars. This President said the United States is not a Christian nation and if his decisions are any reflection, it has become the truth.

Shauberger Arrest Location

2013-04-30T22:35:00.000-05:00

4019 Sunrise Cove Dr. San Antonio TX 78244 (click to expand)

It took the retirement of long time District Attorney Mike Little and weeks of searching by several Liberty detectives and the San Antonio police, but better late than never. Edward Ross Shauberger was arrested on a rainy night in the old rent house (pictured above) his wife Cindy helped him attain in one of the poor barrios of the Alamo City Monday at a few minutes after 10:00 o’clock. He is sitting in a San Antonio jail awaiting a ride back to his hometown with Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputies.

Breaking News- Prior Liberty County Political Candidate and Preacher Arrested

2013-04-30T12:41:00.001-05:00

Prior Liberty County Political candidate and ordained Preacher Edward Ross Shauberger was arrested late last night 04/29/2013 in San Antonio, Texas at 4000 block of Sunrise Cove, San Antonio, Texas.

Shauberger was arrested and taken into custody for two counts of continual sexual assault of a child in Liberty County, Texas.

Because of the great work of the Liberty County District Attorney's office and DA's Investigators, Liberty Police Departments ongoing investigation and other unnamed individuals- a deviant sexual offender has been brought to justice.

Stay tuned for more details.

UPDATE:

Courtesy i-dineout Story:

"Former Businessman, Republican Candidate and Minister Arrested"

A member of the Oak Island Baptist Church, where Shauberger was Pastor, made the following public statement concerning Shauberger and his wife Cynthia,

"Eddie Shauberger sexually assaulted his teenage daughter in the parsonage there at the Oak Island Baptist Church and his other daughters in Liberty Texas.

Almost two years ago Shauberger's wife and teenage daughter left in the middle of the night after Shauberger was found in bed with his daughter. CPS investigation soon came after.
The church there has been defiled by Eddie Shauberger.

Thank God Shauberger is gone.

We at the church have waited for so long.

We welcome new members and ask that the damage Shauberger did will not be a reflection upon our church.

Thank you."

Liberty County Surveys Taking Back Jail

2013-04-30T03:13:00.001-05:00

Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader and the Liberty County Judges are evaluating the current run down state of the county jail and its bizarre history.

Early evaluations of the jail and its prior management is shocking and in some cases inhuman.

The Liberty County Judges and Sheriff are being forced to fix the problems left by the CEC Jail Management Corporation... they are trying to make the best of a bad situation. The situation left was unhealthy and unsafe along with a rash of years and years of illegal behavior. The behavior of CEC has cost Liberty County millions in ligation and there are still suits out there.

Liberty County Judge Craig McNair and Sheriff Bobby Rader will have reports and recommendations for our judges in regard to further action.

The problems over at the Liberty County jail will not go away overnight but Liberty County can rest assured that our Judges and Law Enforcement are moving forward to correct the horrible problems over at the county jail.

BEAUTIFICATION NEXT

2013-04-29T18:29:00.002-05:00

Liberty County Commissioner Mike McCarty has been as responsible as County Judge Craig McNair has been serious in taking on the job of securing the courthouse.

McCarty was given the duel job of orchestrating the stripping down of the courthouse grounds and the beautification of it. To some that may have sounded mutually exclusive, but Commissioner McCarty has been very diligent in his approach. He has been careful in the way the over one hundred year old oaks were trimmed. He also used the opportunity to level the grounds and soon the public will see the best grass that has ever covered the grounds.

McCarty also took advantage of the opportunity and got approval to improve the drainage around the courthouses outside walls. The improved drainage will help inhibit the growth of mold and the drain itself will be easy to take care of and pleasant to the eye.

Of course Liberty Dispatch looks forward to the completion of this project just as everyone else should, but we also believe Commissioner McCarty had already improved the courthouse square weeks ago when he removed the reserved parking sign former County Commissioner Todd Fontenot had erected for himself.

Keep up the good work Mike!

Is Liberty County Serious About Stopping Child Abuse?

2013-04-28T22:08:00.000-05:00

People driving by the Liberty County courthouse can’t help but notice the blue and white signs that pepper the grounds surrounding it. The signs are part of a campaign against child abuse and could lead some to believe that this horrible crime will not be tolerated in Liberty County. But is that really true?

There is no doubt child molesters have no refuge standing before our current judges. Judge Cain and Judge Morefield are by the book judges, but if the evidence leads to conviction, they both are what many call conservative “law and order” judges.

The question about Liberty County’s resolve to stop child abuse is a question better directed at the District Attorney’s office. Liberty Dispatch has been informed by well placed anonymous sources that law enforcement has had a strong case for almost five years against a high profile Liberty County citizen who appears to be a serial child abuser. The former Liberty County District Attorney Mike Little not only failed to convict the man, he failed to even indict him. Unless a perpetrator is arrested and indicted he is free to roam the streets with his perversions.

Liberty Dispatch is left to wonder if the District Attorney’s office hopes a bunch of nice looking signs will protect our children from evil and sick people.

EXTREME MEASURES FOR EXTREME TIMES

2013-04-28T21:33:00.000-05:00

Northside Courthouse wall, new drainage and bushes cut back.

There is no getting around it. We live in a dangerous world. Liberty County is no exception. With that in mind, Liberty Dispatch, in response to several positive comments and one negative one, has looked into what our public officials are doing to make our courthouse safe.

What we found was very encouraging. Gated and locked doors keep any predators from entering through the basement. The trees are trimmed high around the courthouse grounds and bushes have been removed so there is no place for some malcontent to hide.

These changes are judged to be necessary and are all part of multiple security evaluations. In the future, as the budget allows, radios will be added to the security system. Currently new technology in this area is being reviewed, as county leadership tries to be good stewards of taxpayer money as we try to recover from the tax and spend policies of past administrations.

Liberty County Judge Craig McNair is plugged into the courthouse security and also making sure the drainage around the courthouse works to impend the growth of mold, something that was paid for and should have been done years ago.

Westside Courthouse cleaned and new drainage.

WATERGATE 40 YEARS OLD, MAIL FRAUD FOUR MONTHS PAST STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

2013-04-25T01:59:00.001-05:00

Forty years after the Watergate scandal, we can all be reminded of how what happened was all too much like politics and how some people decide what is right and wrong based off of how their party or their friends are effected by it. We can be reminded a local crime and its cover up.

The Watergate scandal was a political scandal that occurred in the United States in the 1970s as a result of the June 17, 1972 burglary of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. The scandal was worsened by the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement and its attempts to stop any legal actions concerning the crimes. It changed the nation as Nixon resigned and it jaded generations of voters’ views of how honest government was.

Of course, Liberty County has nothing that is comparable to Watergate in many respects. But one local crime and the way it was handled has plenty of similarities. Unfortunately one of the differences is that the local crime was covered up much more successfully than Watergate.

The crime written about here is of course the mail theft case. The case involved political enemies illegally tampering with mail and then attempting to use the mail to damage a political enemy’s re-election bid. The facts of the case also involved a brief case full of cash being paid to someone in the courthouse who could have been a potential witness.

In the Watergate scandal, Nixon tries to neuter anyone who was too vigilante in pursuing prosecution. The local mail fraud case is just the opposite. The federal investigator left the case for local District Attorney to handle when it was determined that the mail was not stolen from an official U.S. postal office. It is fair to assume the video showing one of the key perpetrators faxing copies of the mail from an out of town Kinko’s and other FBI evidence would have been readily available to Liberty County’s D.A., but the District Attorney never got an indictment.

A few months ago the statute of limitations ran out and this case appears to leave no way for law enforcement to pursuit. For a short time late in 2012 rumors abound of a grand jury pursuing this case and the Phil Fitzgerald case, but the rumors were followed up by news that the grand jury that was suppose to be looking at the evidence was suddenly and inexplicably dismissed.

The dismissal of that grand jury and the subsequent passing of the statute of limitations, should not only leave a bad taste in people’s mouths, it should leave people wondering what would have happened if Liz Beausoliel and Mark Beausoliel and Phil Fitzgerald and D.A. Mike Little would have been forced to testify in front of twelve Liberty County jurors. In the future Mike Little and others will be called as witnesses where there has been selective prosecution in Liberty County and have to testify and explain their actions and inaction during the tenure of D.A. Little.

Watergate ended with a slew of people going to prison and Nixon being the first and only President to resign from office, but some Nixon haters were still not satisfied. That leads Liberty Dispatch wondering if some of these same people are just as angry because this mail case never gained ground enough to be reviewed by a regular jury.

While Nixon successfully fired a few people that were pursuing prosecution, he was unsuccessful at beating the system. He resigned in shame. We have heard of no effort to bring justice concerning alleged effort to squelch a local grand jury and the charges law enforcement filed are in a closed case file in the Liberty Police Department.

Where are those who were so indignant about Nixon on this case? Does justice have a different standard because the case involved a D.A. some say is the Godfather of the Democratic Party? Was Nixon hated by some for being a Republican more than he was hated for his bag of dirty political tricks?

The answer is clear. Unfortunately, it confirms that not only can the D.A. indict a ham sandwich as he has claimed, but he can also give criminals a pass too.

Ploy to keep money rolling in...?

2013-04-24T13:42:00.000-05:00

Picture in commissioner's court 04/23/2013- Courtesy Cleveland Advocate.

Story quote courtesy LIBERTY VINDICATOR:

(03/21/2013) Liberty County EMS, along with other vendors for emergency medical services, have been asked to bid their services for the first time in 36 years.
Liberty County EMS has been serving Liberty County with non-profit emergency medical services for 36 years.
President Mike Koen said they have been circulating petitions, asking for signatures in support, “from Rye to the Trinity River, from Devers to Dayton, south down to the Hiltons and every place in between.”
Koen added, “We are only asking for names to show support.”

The petition reads:
“Help Support Liberty County EMS from losing their Contract with Liberty County
The County Judge and Commissioners are taking bids from Private for Profit Ambulance Services for the 911 contract for Liherty County. Liberty County .EMS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization started by the people of Liberty County, for the people of Liberty County and managed by the people of Liberty County. They save lives and improve patient outcomes daily with their primary focus and objective on patient care. They put back into the company rather than making money for deep pockets. Please help support Liberty County EMS by signing this petition of support.”

Liberty County Commissioners will be sending out the Requests for Proposal next week and the respondents will have at least two weeks, possible three to four to turn in their respective proposals, according to Diane Hartfield in Liberty County Judge Craig McNair’s office."

04/24/2013- LD Commentary:

In the Vindicator story Mike Koen is quoted as saying the Liberty County EMS is 501C3, further he tries to make it look like the Liberty County EMS is some kind of benevolent organization. It is true that LC EMS is a non-profit but it does in fact make a profit and those profits do go into Mike Koen and other peoples pockets.

The petition and its purpose is somewhat misleading.

Koen also tries to make it look like Liberty County Judge Craig McNair is doing something wrong when in fact he and the commissioners are only trying to save the county money and find the best service possible for Liberty County.

LC EMS Koen and his employees showed up at the Liberty County Commissioners court Tuesday in a show that could only be construed as some sort of intimidation ploy focused toward the commissioners and county judge.

Mike Koen truly may care about provideing a service but... regardless of spin, profit is truly the motive of the current Liberty County EMS- we are sure that he would not work for free.

LD says... let the commissioners and county judge do their job and quit with the intimidation.

Bruce Halstead Steps Down as Municipal Utility President, Progress Realized...

2013-04-23T21:23:00.002-05:00

See the attached letter link of President Bruce Halstead's resignation letter to the Sam Rayburn Municipal Power Agency board of directors.
LINK- Liberty Dispatch hopes to see Mr. Halstead(R) use his extra time to run for office in Liberty County, his positive contribution would make a great difference.

FORMER LIBERTY COUTY COMMISSIONER ALLEGEDLY CAUGHT IN THEFT

2013-04-18T17:53:00.002-05:00

As all of our readers can attest to, Liberty Dispatch has made no effort to investigate and expose the Democrat leaders of the county’s recent past. We figured a fresh start by new Republican leadership would soon make all of the past scandals, both the known and unknown ones, fade away in our memories and Liberty County’s reputation for good government could begin to be built.

But our self-imposed silence on the wrongdoing previous officeholders has its limits. It appears former Liberty County Commissioner of Precinct #1, Todd Fontenot, has used all of his resources including press connections and his Democrat brethren like former County Judge Tookie Kirkham, to paint a false picture of the current county judge. If these people still choose to try and influence local government, then their skeletons should not be off limits.

In recent months Fontenot attempted to make it look like the poor financial arrangement he and Kirkham and the commissioners’ court had with a private company they paid to manage the jail was a no brainer. That political spin was debunked when at no charge a professional and respected local lawyer researched, analyzed, and offered his professional opinion of whether this county should continue the relationship with the management company. Fontenot complained publicly about the expense of hiring the attorney and the poor results of attempted negotiations with the management company. His assertions were all wrong and the county is better off with Sheriff Bobby Rader managing the jail- as endorsed by Liberty Dispatch. People that keep up with local news are still awaiting prosecution of the people Fontenot, Kirkham, etc. had over the jail running the place and committing outrageous crimes.

Two other actions by Fontenot have led us to identifying one of his crimes while in office. The first action by Fontenot was his aggressive response to the firing of Connie Paintsil. Connie Paintsil was a political operative being paid Liberty County taxpayer money while she hustled votes for Fontenot and Tookie Kirkham. When her “job” was eliminated in cost saving measures, Fontenot and friends criticism of County Judge Craig McNair became a target. The second action, Fontenot has told people he will be running for Liberty County Judge in the next election.

His public acknowledgement that he wants to hold elective office again is audacious in view of just the first revelation of some of his wrongdoing while serving as commissioner. How will he deal with the proof that he allegedly committed theft while in office is hard to fathom. Fontenot had a generous car allowance when he was commissioner, but he decided to break the law and take the allowance and then to bill the county for work done on his car. That is the fraudulent double dipping and Liberty County taxpayers are not likely to consider voting for someone with so little respect for them. In fact, if folks in the District Attorney’s office are operating free from political consideration, we might all expect to hear about a grand jury indictment of Fontenot soon enough.

Or perhaps Fontenot will slip through their fingers with no public hearing like Phil Fitzgerald and Mark Beausoliel. Regardless, Liberty County taxpayers are fed up with money mongering of past elected officials and their stealing money. Despite Todd Fontenot and company constantly slinging mud on Liberty County Judge Craig McNair, Todd Fontenot is unlikely to do well running for any office.

Liberty County Judge Craig McNair(R) continues to protect the assets of Liberty County making the appropriate cuts in spending no matter which of the good ole boy network whines and tries to demonize him…

BOSTON BOMBING SUSPECTS PHOTO/VIDEO UPDATE FROM FBI

2013-04-17T19:02:00.001-05:00

Be aware there could be other actors involved in the bombing and in the vicinity of the attack.

Statement from Chris W. Cox on U.S. Senate Defeat of Manchin-Toomey-Schumer Amendment

2013-04-17T18:07:00.001-05:00

(04/17/2013) Today, the misguided Manchin-Toomey-Schumer proposal failed in the U.S. Senate. This amendment would have criminalized certain private transfers of firearms between honest citizens, requiring lifelong friends, neighbors and some family members to get federal government permission to exercise a fundamental right or face prosecution. As we have noted previously, expanding background checks, at gun shows or elsewhere, will not reduce violent crime or keep our kids safe in their schools.

The NRA will continue to work with Republicans and Democrats who are committed to protecting our children in schools, prosecuting violent criminals to the fullest extent of the law, and fixing our broken mental health system. We are grateful for the hard work and leadership of those Senators who chose to pursue meaningful solutions to our nation’s most pressing problems.

VICTORY TODAY FOR USA GUN OWNERS!

Liberty PD Awarded Grant by the NRA

2013-04-16T13:02:00.000-05:00

Liberty Police Department

The Liberty Police Department was awarded a grant by the National Rifle Association Foundation (NRA) for $7564.75 to purchase patrol rifles and related equipment and ammunition. This is a nationwide program offered by NRA Foundation to assist law enforcement agencies in purchasing weapons necessary to provide adequate protection for officers and their communities.
With this grant the Liberty Police Department has purchased 5 AR-15 Bushmasters, with collapsible stocks, Eotech Red Dot sights, 2-30 round magazines each, sling and waterproof carrying case. Each of these units is worth approximately $1000.00.
In addition, the department has received 10,000 rounds of training ammunition and 600 rounds of frangible duty ammunition. The rifles arrived several months ago but the department had a waiting period of approximately 6 months to obtain the ammunition.
Each officer will attend a three day course in the use of patrol rifles which will include the rifles mechanics, clearing malfunctions, ballistics, controlled firing and tactical use of the rifle. This course will be taught by department personnel certified to teach these courses.
Law enforcement agencies nationwide have been adding the patrol rifle to their arsenal, and often replacing the traditional patrol shotgun. Mostly this is a result of active shooter incidents in which the police response requires more firepower than the handgun carried by the lone patrol officer. Columbine, the Los Angeles bank robbery, and similar incidents have taught law enforcement agencies to increase their preparedness levels in order to respond effectively to these incidents. The Liberty Police Department has spent much of this year training for an active shooter incident while hoping that this is training that will never have to be used. The purchase of these rifles substantially increases the ability to respond to such incidents.
Patrol rifles, such as the ones provided to LPD by the NRA are more accurate than handguns and shotguns, have a more effective range, have an increased ammunition capacity, and are lighter than shotguns. LPD took bids for the purchase of the rifles both locally and from national distributors. The best price was offered to the department by Texas Armory in Liberty, Texas.

Candlelight Vigil for Children Victims of Sexual Abuse

2013-04-10T21:06:00.001-05:00

Courtesy KSHN:

"Candlelight Vigil: The annual candlelight vigil honoring victims of crime and child abuse is next Thursday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m.in the LibertyCenterat City Hall. This vigil honors victims of crime, their families and those who serve them. Liberty County District Attorney Logan Pickett said the special event also alerts the public to the realities of such crime while expressing hope for a less violent future. For more information call Victim Assistance Coordinator Kathy Dagle with the Liberty County District Attorney’s office at (936) 336 4611."