Avalanche-Journal
June 11, 1987
Lawyer testifies in Feazell bribery trial
AUSTIN (AP) – Waco attorney Dick Kettler says lawyers who made deals with McLennan County District Attorney Vic Feazell could charge higher fees for handling DWI and drug cases.
Kettler has testified the past tow days for the government in the bribery trial of the 35-year-old Waco prosecutor.
Feazell, who is still district attorney, has denied the federal charges that he accepted bribes or illegal campaign contributions in exchange for his influence over criminal cases.
The trial is in its third week in U.S. district court and is expected to last at least a week longer.
Kettler testified Wednesday he and his law partner, Don Hall, prospered after they made and agreement with Feazell to “handle” certain cases for one-third of the legal fee.
“Our business seemed to continue to increase,” said Kettler.
Kettler said Wednesday he never actually saw Feazell receive any money but he and Hall talked frequently about amounts to give Feazell for help in certain cases.
Under questioning, Kettler said he had a written agreement with the government to plead guilty to a felony charge of tax evasion in return for his testimony. He said his attorney was still negotiating with U.S. attorneys over the punishment.
The jury heard an hour-long tape recording Wednesday made in Kettler’s office on Sept. 12, 1986, of a conversation between him and Feazell. The district attorney did not know the recording was being made. Most of the conversation concerned the grand jury investigation in Austin into Feazell’s office.
At one point in the tape, which was arranged by the FBI, Kettler told Feazell “I don’t know of anything they can connect you and us.”
He was asked what he meant by that. “At that time I did not know they had any records to connect Don Hall and me making payments to Feazell,” Kettler replied.
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