Recent developments in the sentencing in the infamous FEMA fraud case and the indictment of the longtime game warden and husband of a JP candidate could infect voters in the upcoming election.
By now most Liberty County residents know that Mark Wayne Miksch, former County Judge Phil Fitzgerald’s brother-in-law, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined $5,000 for failure to file a tax return. The fact that actual prison time will be served could prove to be an ominous sign to Fitzgerald and to those who have hoped to keep a lid on “the cover up” that occurred early on in this case. In the upcoming weeks we have been told that some of the very selective ways justice has been applied in Liberty County will be very evident as a result of this trial. Voters stay tuned.
Most citizens have also heard by now that a Liberty County Grand Jury indicted former game warden Danny Diaz last Wednesday on the charge of official oppression for the alleged unlawful detainment of a man named James David McCormick. The charge is in reference to an incident that occurred in November 2011 and is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a maximum fine of $4,000. But this case will undoubtedly have an effect on the upcoming race for Justice of the Peace precinct #1. Diaz’s wife, Darla, is making her second attempt to win that position. After having run for that position as a Democrat years ago, Darla Diaz, is the second most qualified candidate in the Republican primary to be decided on May 29th. (Note: Roy House has judicial experience and years as a Houston detective and is hands down the person who could perform the JP duties from day one.)
Darla Diaz may very well have been able win a spot in what most likely will be a run-off due to the fact there is a crowded field until news of more family problems surfaced with this indictment. Her campaign was not expected to be affected by Diaz’s daughter connection to embattled former County Judge Phil Fitzgerald.
The race for JP now is expected to have three main possibilities when trying to pick a winner. The more experienced and highly regarded but not as connected socially, Roy House, the very capable and well known and liked Liberty City Councilwoman Libby Simonson, and the late to enter but well connected son of John Hebert. (Some say this is Hebert’s first shot at what he hopes to be a ladder-climbing political career).
Note: LD reported on Diaz over a month ago.
24 comments:
Phil Fitzgerald should have been charged in Liberty County, whats up with that Logan Picket and company?
This is nothing but DA trying to cover his @ss, nothing is going to happen to Diaz.
I bet they wish Hight was still here.
Classic selective prosecution.
Maybe Sheriff Patterson is so busy trying to arrest Joe Warren or get some juicy mud Bobby Rader that it has taken him awhile to push this to Little. Both men seem to "select" actions on the basis of what is good for them. Poor little Logan is being tutored by a politician not a DA.
Logan Pickett has the worst win-loss record of any asistant DA in my lifetime. Diaz should hope his case goes to Little Lord Fauntleroy.
$5000 fine and a $300,000 profit. Does crime pay or what?
there are other times where the Dem's chose to file charges, for no other crime than the audacity to file for office against them. I remember the case of a 'tractor theft' charge, because a Tarkington man ran for school board. That was in the spring of 2011.
However, based on the above post and its proportion ( 10 months for a #300,000 profit, and 1 2/3% fine- $5000/$300,000;) one would predict that Fitzie's $600,000 in kickbacks would yield 20 months and a $10,000 fine. Subtract community service, as his time spent in public office (public "service"? HA!)... and he pays his $10,000 and WALKS!!!
The public should be justifiably OUTRAGED!!! Time to re-name and relocate the "occupy" rallies...
(note: there IS such a thing as a 'registered sex offender', but not a "regestered public offender." Go figure...)
How about old possum grinn'in yellow dog democrat Tim Allison jumping to the Republican ticket? Let's get rid of 'em all.
This article gives the kind of analysis that makes The Liberty Dispatch worth reading.
I hear that Harry Leroy Kelly is getting out of federal prison at the end of this month. Guess Misch will have to find another cellmate from Liberty County.
release date was supposed to be in July.... did he get credit for 'good time'?
Is this investigation still open? Or is Patterson free and clear?
^^^^^ good joke openings, there...
Free? Yes, except he has to pay all of the taxes, surcharges, and fees as the rest of us.
Clear?
Now, THAT's a helluva question...
How could ANYONE be "clear" when their mind is be-FUDDY'D??? lmao
Good story, right on the money!
It does matter that Darla Diaz is married to Danny Diaz and "is currently running to political office" in Liberty County- IT MATTERS and it is news! Anyone that doesn't think it matters is a moron.
Note: We do not post comments which are sent in all CAPS.
Judge Bobby Rader has the most respected ran JP office in this county. He would not have kept Darla running his office for him for all these years if she was not the most knowledgable, honest and experienced person. The report done earlier on her husband has another side to the story. Richard and ray and whoever, if you are fair please post a pro-Diaz comment to show this is not one-sided in public opinion.
Shocked there are any negatives on Darla Diaz on here. I know for a fact Pegues likes her. I know the people involved in this website think Libby and Roy would do a great job too, but the "news" has whacked one of their three possibles out of contention.
A marriage is teamwork. What a marriage partner does obviously reflects on the other partner for good or ill. A husband is "the other half."
Just speaking for myself if my husband had been involved in a a couple of legally controversial incidents just prior to elections it would have given me second thoughts before running for office.
I am also not clear or in agreement on why being a clerk is necessarily a good background for being a judge. It is good to know the paperwork, but mature judgement and a strong, dignified presence seem more essential to me.
The choice is clear, vote Libby Simonson!
FYI: Lisa Fregia was paid $20,000 cash (that was counted out in the courthouse) for linking Beausoliel to that distressed girlfriend of a victim of the BP explosion.
$20,000? There's a treasury foul, who are supposed to be notified for all transactions of half that size! Everybody who posted this, and knows about this, has a duty to report it. So does any bank, where it was deposited.
I ask you, which is more criminal (tax evasion, or looking the other way- and only reporting it to a blog)??? Seems like the good old boys network, has a poster on LD.
Slush funds, and cayman offshore accounts..... same difference!
aw, c'mon. This is LC. The good old boys don't follow measely old treasury rules... Especially, when it's only a 2% fine, and a wrist slap.... assuming that you ever get caught! (never mind, that treasury rules were the only way to get some of the old Chicago mob types (read: tax evasion))!!!
WOW! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ LD bloggers call it right, again! see:
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/news/federal-prosecutors-could-add-tax-evasion-charge-to-case-against/article_136b08d8-5395-53d4-9d81-44ce69c3d7c8.html
tax evaders? What about the ones who deeded Gene Campbell's property to themselves?
Isn't stolen property still "taxable income" to the thieves???
Don't abuse of elderly crimes, have a tiny, little shortcoming: no statute of LIMITATIONS???
Same for tax evasion??? (yep, once fraud's involved, they can go all the way back)!!!
Sleep well, former councilman!
Little can't take US treasury investigations, and "sweep them under the rug"!!! Donations to Patterson's campaign don't help either...
The IRS? Once they're on the trail, they'll take it ALL... (airplane, ranch, bank accounts, deeds, stocks, oil stocks...)!!!
You see: penalty and interest have BEEN ACCRUING, since day one. They'll get you prison time, too.
(Welcome to the mob's rules of tax law, that no filthy/oily mob lawyer could stop.)
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