Avalanche-Journal
June 12, 1987
Lawyer testifies in Feazell case
AUSTIN (AP) – A Waco attorney has testified that his law firm had a fee-splitting agreement with District Attorney Vic Feazell, although he never say any money change hands.
In his third day on the witness stand Thursday, Dick Kettler said he and his partner, Don Hall, had an agreement to give the McLennan County district attorney one-third of the fees in cases where Feazell’s efforts resulted in a case dismissal or sentence reduction.
Kettler said Hall delivered the cash, but acknowledged he didn’t actually see Feazell take any money. Hall is to testify as the last government witness on Monday.
U.S. District Judge James Nowlin warned the jury before recessing Thursday that the trial might last more than another week. Feazell has denied the federal bribery charges against him.
Kettler repeated several times under cross examination that he and Hall had a fee-splitting agreement with Feazell.
“Yes sir, that is what happened,” Kettler said when challenged by defense attorney Gary Richardson.
But Kettler admitted that he and Hall had charged up to $3,000 for drunken-driving and drug cases they were able to get dismissed before Feazell became district attorney.
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