By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-937834.mp3
Dallas, TX – The Special Prosecutor in the Dallas County "Constable" investigation says the kind of behavior he found must stop. KERA's BJ Austin says a Grand Jury apparently agrees, and has returned indictments against a current and former Constable.
Precinct 1 Constable Derick Evans faces five felony charges involving illegal raffles to raise campaign cash: including failing to report cash contributions of 100 dollars or more. The indictment accuses Former Precinct 5 Constable Jaime Cortes of failing to report campaign contributions related to raffle tickets.
Special Prosecutor Ted Lyon says deputies who worked for the Constables were forced to sell or buy 250 dollars in campaign raffle tickets. Lyon says deputies need to be protected from that sort of thing.
Lyon: I think long term there has to be some kind of civil service system set up for deputy constables so they can't be forced to do those kinds of things. I don't think these Constables ought to be fearful for their jobs if they don't give 250 dollars to some politician who's running for office.
Lyon says that sort of activity had been going on in those two Constable precincts for years. Two of Evans' deputy constables were also indicted on related charges.
Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey says the indictments validate the controversial "private" Constable investigation ordered by three of the five Commissioners.
Dickey: After it was done and it was such in-depth and disturbing information, I feared that maybe it would never be brought to light. So, this is really makes me feel that our system works.
Special Prosecutor Lyon believes the indictments send a strong message.
Lyon: This kind of activity that goes on like this is just wrong. And it has to stop.
Evans and Cortes face up to two years in prison, if convicted. Their attorneys were unavailable for comment.