The Collin County Observer
The DA's new furniture
08/19/07
The DA's new furniture
The Dallas Morning News reported today that John Roach, the District Attorney spent $25,183 on new furniture for himself and 5 top assistants.
It seems that the judges are envious, and the commissioners are less than thrilled.
Why? Because the money comes not from the county budget, but from funds the DA has collected. The DMN article states, "The money came from two sources: hot check fees that Mr. Roach's office collects and assets seized from criminals – a portion of which the DA keeps. The district attorney, by law, has sole discretion over how both funds are spent."
The News reports that as of the end of June, those 2 funds had a combined balance of almost $600 thousand.
Roach says he wants his office to look like a big law firm, "Our population in Collin County is over 700,000," Mr. Roach said. "We're a big-time prosecutor's office. I think it's important to convey that impression."
Now, I was called as a witness in a criminal case in Dallas County last month, so I got to see first-hand the offices of some of the top prosecutors in a county with a population of over 2 million. The impression I got was of a inner city food stamp office. Yet Craig Watkins' staff gets the convictions without fancy chairs.
Roach then defended his control of the money, stating, "If it's in my hands, it will be spent on law enforcement," Mr. Roach said. "If it's in their (the Commissioners) hands, who knows?"
"Who knows?" Indeed!
Earth to John Roach - How many bad guys are you planning on catching with that big leather-topped desk?
I think the citizens should be outraged. I am.
Bill
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