Spring Break
Shane Phelps best candidate for county attorney
By: Ty Clevenger
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Mail Call
The Republican primary race for Brazos County Attorney is an important one for voters who care about drunk driving. About 2,000 misdemeanor DWI cases were filed in Brazos County in the previous three years, but only 25 were tried. The remainder were dismissed or plea-bargained, often to a less-significant charge such as obstructing a highway.
Plea bargains are a necessary part of the criminal justice system, but nothing deters repeat DWI offenders if they know that the county attorney's office is too lazy to go to trial and instead will settle for something less than a DWI conviction.
This issue is no secret to the local criminal defense bar. In fact, it is somewhat of a running joke, as illustrated by a December incident at the holiday party for the Brazos County Bar Association. While standing near the registration line, another attorney next to me purchased several drink tickets, then told an assistant county attorney nearby to make sure she got him an obstructing a highway charge (instead of a DWI).
Because I occasionally represent defendants on misdemeanor charges, I suppose it would be in my professional interest to maintain with [strike] the status quo. But then I've been hit by a drunk driver, and my brother came close to being killed by one in College Station.
Rod Anderson, the current First Assistant County Attorney, is an honest man with a good reputation, but he has promised to maintain the status quo if elected Brazos County Attorney. Under the circumstances, that's just not good enough. That's why I'll be voting for Shane Phelps in the Republican primary.
Ty Clevenger
Class of 1991
Plea bargains are a necessary part of the criminal justice system, but nothing deters repeat DWI offenders if they know that the county attorney's office is too lazy to go to trial and instead will settle for something less than a DWI conviction.
This issue is no secret to the local criminal defense bar. In fact, it is somewhat of a running joke, as illustrated by a December incident at the holiday party for the Brazos County Bar Association. While standing near the registration line, another attorney next to me purchased several drink tickets, then told an assistant county attorney nearby to make sure she got him an obstructing a highway charge (instead of a DWI).
Because I occasionally represent defendants on misdemeanor charges, I suppose it would be in my professional interest to maintain with [strike] the status quo. But then I've been hit by a drunk driver, and my brother came close to being killed by one in College Station.
Rod Anderson, the current First Assistant County Attorney, is an honest man with a good reputation, but he has promised to maintain the status quo if elected Brazos County Attorney. Under the circumstances, that's just not good enough. That's why I'll be voting for Shane Phelps in the Republican primary.
Ty Clevenger
Class of 1991
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