Daily Light
June 12, 1987
Tape played at Feazell trial
AUSTIN, Texas (UPI) – McLennan County District Attorney Vic Feazell, in a taped conversation played in his corruption trial, told a Waco attorney to “hang in there” and help him fight a federal indictment Feazell described as “trash.”
The conversation was taped by attorney Dick Kettler, who on Thursday repeated previous testimony that he paid Feazell bribes in exchange for dismissal of criminal charges against his clients.
Feazell is on trial for federal bribery, fraud and racketeering charges. The government contends he received $19,000 from an “inner circle” attorneys in exchange for preferential treatment of their clients, most of whom faced drunken driving charges.
Feazell called Kettler a week after his September, 1986 indictment and said, “As long a s everybody tells the truth, and if) the government) can’t find some crook to get up there and lie, I don’t see any problem.”
At the government’s request, Kettler agreed to tape his conversations with Feazell. Kettler is testifying under immunity from prosecution for tax violations.
Kettler said at the time the recordings were made, Feazell “didn’t know I was going to cooperate (with the government). He thought I was still on his side.”
Feazell told Kettler in a telephone conversation, “the indictment looks like trash. Dick, we love you, Janet (his wife) and the kids. Hang in there, friend.”
Kettler testified that is in another taped conversation, played before the jury Wednesday, Feazell “told me to act like (the bribes) never happened. He said, “The only thing that could happen to screw it up is if we screw it up.”
Defense attorney Gary Richardson asked Kettler if Feazell asked him to lie.”
“Yes sir, he did tell me to lie,” Kettler replied.
Richardson pointed out that in Kettler’s testimony about the bribes, his law partner, Don Hall, actually made payments to Feazell, rather than Kettler himself. Hall is also expected to testify as a government witness.
“All you have to support the allegations of bribes is your conversations with Don Hall,” Richardson said.
“That, and that tape (made) on September 12,” Kettler said.
“Not one time did you have discussion of bribes?” Richardson asked.
“No sir, except on September 12,” Kettler said.
Richardson, while cross examining Kettler, was reprimanded by U.S. District Judge James Nowlin for continuing to ask questions on subjects with which the witness had no knowledge.
“I’m going to say this for the last time,” Nowlin said. “If the witness doesn’t know about it, it’s against the rules to proceed. As an attorney you know that. I’m not going to tolerate it anymore.
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