Avalanche-Journal
June 10, 1987
Lawyer claims Feazell sought part of action
AUSTIN (AP) – A Waco attorney testified that District Attorney Vic Feazell wanted “a piece of the action” when lawyers received money for getting court cases dismissed.
“The understanding was that Vic would get one-third and all three of us would share alike,” Dick Kettler said Tuesday as a witness for the government.
The McLennan County prosecutor is charged with accepting 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.
Kettler said he had talked with Feazell several times in 1984 about getting drunken-driving charges dismissed without offering any money.
“I began having trouble talking to Vic, and may partner (Don Hall) went over to see Feazell,” Kettler said. “Hall came back and said Vic wants a piece of the action. That’s the way he put it. Hall said that’s what it’s going to take to do business over there.”
Kettler said the arrangement ended in April 1985, when he heard there was an investigation into Feazell’s operations.
“I told Hall it was over,” Kettler said.
Earlier Tuesday, a member of Feazell’s staff testified that attorneys often tried to influence Feazell because they considered him “soft-hearted.”
“One of my biggest problems was that attorneys would come and talk with me or one of the assistant district attorneys, and when they didn’t like the negotiations they would go to Vic,” said Deanna FitzGerald, who is chief of the misdemeanors section in Feazell’s office.
Back
