Remarks this week from Palo Pinto County District Attorney Michael Burns concerning a drug case defendant drew critical responses from the defense attorney.
Weatherford attorney David Stiller took exception to quoted comments from Burns stating that Timothy John Morris was part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Mineral Wells area.
“Cases should be tried in the courtroom, not in the newspaper,” said Stiller.
Burns’ remarks were made in the wake of last week’s guilty plea and conviction by Erin Brown Smolin, 33, of Mineral Wells. Smolin pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in organized criminal activity and received a 15-year prison term.
The cases involving Smolin and Morris are not related. Smolin’s conviction was the first among 26 defendants arrested in September following August indictments by a Palo Pinto County grand jury.
Morris is among 17 people indicted last year under allegations they conspired to deliver a large quantity of methamphetamine – as much as 150 pounds of it over a three-year period, Burns alleges, saying he estimated $6 million worth of “ice” was brought into the community by the group during that period.
Charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, Morris is free on bond and his case is set for trial Nov. 2.
In Wednesday’s Index, Burns was quoted saying, “He (Morris) was part of the Hanna organization,” referring to co-defendant Phillip Hanna, 60, of Perrin. Officials allege Hanna picked up methamphetamine from a source in Dallas the distributed it to mid-level dealers in the Mineral Wells area.
Morris’ indictment reads, in part: “On or about April, 2007, Timothy John Morris, together with Daria Price, met and planned the purchase and distribution of methamphetamine.”
Stiller says while that’s the state’s claims, he said testimony in Morris’ trial will show he was not part of a drug distribution conspiracy with Hanna or anyone else.
“Erin Brown Smolin has nothing to do with Timothy Morris,” Stiller said. “The trial will show Timothy Morris has nothing to do with Phillip Hanna.”
Stiller said he represents five of the 17 defendants in the Hanna case, which were the results of an investigation by narcotics officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the City-County Narcotics Unit. Stiller said two of his clients have made please in the case while the other three, including Morris, are set for trial.
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Index staff writer Christn Coyne contributed to this report.
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