After receiving communication from Captain Gregory Lewis from the Texas State Attorney General’s office saying that the investigatory report produced by Defenbaugh and Associates was deemed to be under local jurisdiction, the City Council Monday night voted to send the forensic report to the District Attorney.
Council member Benny Plata began by asking council member A.J. Hashmi, “I wanted the Attorney General to look at that, because I wanted somebody from the outside, do you think people will be satisfied with this?”
Council member Hashmi responded, “I think it’s not a question of satisfaction of people, it’s a question that I think it’s not in the Attorney General’s jurisdiction to investigate. The purpose is to put a completion to what was started. The question is not whether it was satisfying but that it was sent to the highest legal authority.”
Plata asked Hashmi again, “If he doesn’t find anything is that it?”
Hashmi answered, “If he doesn’t find anything wrong, well then there’s nothing wrong.”
Council member Edwin Pickle asked, “What happens if he doesn’t find anything worth prosecuting?”
Hashmi answered, “That’s his opinion and I think he’s a legal expert.”
Pickle followed up with, “If the District Attorney says the same thing, what should our expectations be of what you’re going to do next?”
Hashmi then said, “It’s not a question of what I’m going to do next, if he thinks there’s nothing wrong with it then that’s his legal opinion, and we have to go by what his legal opinion is.”
In response to council member Pickle pointing out that council member Hashmi requested the item to discuss and possibly act on the investiagory report, Hashmi said, “That’s what the Attorney General’s office has directed me to do.”
Mayor Matt Frierson noted, “I don’t think that’s what he said to do.”
Mayor Frierson then read the letter from the Attorney General’s office:
“Mr. Godwin, my name is Captain Gregory Lewis, I’m a law enforcement liason for the office of the Attorney General. Your letter requesting an investigation of the PEDC was forwarded to me for review. I called your office and left a message for you requesting a call back. Please know that in Texas crimes like this are reported to local law enforcement and prosecuted by the County or District Attorney. In this case the Paris Police Department and/or the Lamar County Sheriff’s office and/or Lamar County District Attorney. The Office of Attorney General serves as a resource to those agencies who request assistance. I suggest you contact your local police department or sheriff’s office to file your criminal complaint.”
After much discussion council member Hashmi made a motion to send the investigatory report to the District Attorney for further investigation. Council member Sue Lancaster seconded the motion. Mayor Frierson and council member Grossnickle voted against. Council members Aaron Jenkins and Plata voted for the motion. Council member Pickle abstained. The motion passed 4 – 2 – 1.