The Orange Leader
February 1988
Don't Blame me, Duhon contends
By Rick Young
Staff Reporter
One of two men listed in an FBI affidavit filed in Beaumont Friday accusing Orange County Sheriff James Wade of conspiring to manufacture and sell methamphetamines says he did not instigate the investigation. "I'm
living on the run," Deputy Don Duhon, former crime prevention and public information officer for the sheriff's department said. "I change where I'm going to sleep every night. I have about eight different vehicles I drive and I panic every time I hear a car door slam outside.
"I could go to the FBI for protection," Duhon said "but I haven't. I turned my gun - .357-(caliber) Magnum - in to the FBI.
"I'm just doing the best I can, but I'm doing it on my own."
Duhon said that since word of the FBI investigation was released Friday, he has been made out to be the mastermind behind a plot to frame Wade in the alleged drug deals involving the sheriff and a suspected drug manufacturer, Donnie Flowers, formerly of Orange, and Himself.
"People in this county say I'm the one that started all this," Duhon said. The fact is, the FBI came to me, at my apartment; I didn't go to them."
FBI Special Agent Zechariah Shelton filed the affidavit along with a request of the U. S. Attorney's office for a temporary restraining order to enjoin Wade and his department against harassing Duhon and Flowers through arrest warrants pending completion of the federal investigation. A hearing is scheduled Wednesday in Beaumont to consider making the order permanent.
Shelton said in the affidavit that Duhon and Flowers were witnesses in an investigation of Wade "individually and in his capacity as sheriff of Orange County."
In the affidavit, Shelton said that Flowers had told him that Wade gave him (Flowers) the equipment and helped finance the purchase of chemicals for the production of methamphetamines with money allegedly obtained through the Orange County Sheriff Department narcotics fund, commonly known as "buy money." These funds are normally obtained either through the department's budget or through seizures of funds as a result of drug raids by the department.
According to Shelton's affidavit, a pump Flowers was to use in the meth manufacturing operation was provided by Wade. Serial numbers on that pump match those on a pump seized by Hardin County authorities during a drug raid Oct. 15, 1987, in Hardin County in which Flowers and two other men were arrested for manufacturing drugs.
"I was at my apartment and there was a knock at the door," Duhon said "There were two guys there who identified themselves as FBI agents." One was Zechariah Shelton, the other was Roger Humphrey, Duhon said.
"Zack (Shelton) said he wanted me to be truthful. To be honest. He said if I lied about what he was going to ask me, it would further incriminate me.
" I said, 'I'll cooperate.' Then he asked me three questions.
Shelton asked Duhon if he had seen Wade take drug manufacturing equipment from the evidence room.
" I said 'Yes, I saw him.'"
Shelton then asked if it was Wade who actually took the equipment from the room. "I said 'It was Wade,'" Duhon said.
"Did you take two eight-balls (methamphetamines) from Flowers in front of Wade?" Shelton asked. Duhon said he answered "Yes."
Duhon then said Shelton asked if Wade had introduced him to Donnie Flowers. Duhon said he told Shelton that Wad had.
" I don't know what their business was," Duhon said of Wade and Flowers. "The sheriff was always telling me to come with him, and we met with flowers a couple of times.
"But I don't think I spent over 30 minutes with Donnie. I'm not sure I would recognize him if he walked in here right now."
Duhon said he had totally involved himself in his duties as crime prevention officer during his year as a deputy to the point that his efforts at advancing himself as a peace officer had suffered.
"I would hate to know that everything I have put into this 'Just Say No To Drugs Program' was a waste," Duhon said. "if I hadn't been set up in this, I would still be at work."
A Spokesman for the orange county sheriff's Department said this morning that Duhon "is still employed as a sheriff's deputy," but his exact status remained unclear.
Duhon said that when the FBI began talking to Flowers, the "smelled something funny. In the course of talking to Donnie, Unit One's (Wade's) name came up.
"When the FBI started putting the heat on Donnie, he sang like a bird," Duhon said. "I was with them (Wade and Flowers for three meetings, but I don't know what they were doing..."
"I've got to go over there (to Beaumont) and talk (to the grand jury and the FBI). I'm not going to lie," Duhon said. "Lying doesn't work for me. I've got to tell the truth."
Although Wade has not responded to questions about the federal drug investigation and his involvement in an alleged scheme to manufacture drugs, his wife in Sunday's edition of The Orange Leader said the charges were "politically motivated" and would be beaten in court.
"We've know this was coming for a long time," Neva Wade said, "only we expected it to be a little later closer to the election."
No charges have been filed against the sheriff only public information that the FBI was conducting and investigation.
Duhon said allegations that the FBI probe into Wade's affairs was politically motivated are false.
"I have not been contacted by any of the candidates for sheriff," Duhon said. "I've seen Brad Bacom around the courthouse, but I don't know Huel (Fonteot). I have worked with Greg Heller in the past.
"I don't know whose toes I'm stomping on, but I'm sorry, "Duhon said. " The truth is the truth.
"I'm not trying to frame anyone I'm just trying to .......
