Meth trial based on testimony, not product

<b>By Christin Coyne</b><br><a href="mailto:ccoyne@mineralwellsindex.com">ccoyne@mineralwellsindex.com</a>

PALO PINTO – A former girlfriend, a man who said he delivered drugs to the defendant and a Department of Public Safety investigator testified Tuesday at the trial of Timothy Morris, accused of engaging in organized criminal activity for conspiring to distribute more than 400 grams of methamphetamine.

Morris is accused of dealing drugs in connection with 17 others named in an indictment last year on the same charge, including Phillip Hanna, who allegedly brought approximately 250 pounds of “ice” methamphetamine to the Mineral Wells area from Dallas over the course of a two-year investigation by DPS narcotics investigators.

“The crux of the case is not a pile of dope,” District Attorney Mike Burns said.

Instead, the prosecutors hope the testimony of two witnesses and an investigator persuade the jury that Morris agreed with Price, Hoskins and Prentice to distribute methamphetamine in the county.

Daria Price, also named in the indictment, testified that she and Morris lived together between May 2007 and fall 2007. She said he bought meth from Ronnie Prentice and Pat Holcomb, both named in the indictment, and sold it, often to teenagers, while he was living with her in the house she rented.

Though she said she never saw an exchange between Prentice and Morris, it was understood because Morris had large quantities of methamphetamine after meeting with him, Price said.

Price said she saw watched Morris dilute the drug by adding another filler and package the methamphetamine in the back room of her house.

“My whole yard was like a drive-through,” Price said.

She testified she saw Morris actually sell the narcotic one time.

“My living room was full of kids,” Price said, describing the young people as looking like they were between 17 and 20 years old.

Price said she saw Morris come out of the back room and give one of the teens methamphetamine before the group left together in a vehicle.

Price said both she and Morris used methamphetamine heavily most of the time they lived together and Morris beat her constantly.

Robert Hoskins testified he delivered methamphetamine in amounts of 3 to 4 ounces for Ronnie Prentice to Morris between 16 and 18 times.

The first time he met Morris was at a convenience store in Perrin, according to Hoskins.

“I was instructed to deliver the product to him,” Hoskins said. “Him and Mr. Prentice would settle later.”

They met at the home of Morris and Price, in the Perrin area and at a barbeque place, according to Hoskins.

Agent Darla Dow, narcotics investigator with DPS, said the investigation led to address where Morris lived in April 2007 after they followed Hanna from his house to Price’s home on N.E. 7th Avenue.

The City-County Narcotics Unit approached Dow with an informant during the investigation, Hoskins, who told Dow during an interview that he delivered methamphetamine to a man he knew as Tim at the N.E. 7th Avenue residence.

Dow said they corroborated the information Hoskins gave them about Morris.

“I expect the evidence will be so insufficient,” defense attorney David Stiller argued in an opening statement. “You are just going to hear rumors and rumors ain’t evidence.”

Stiller asked Dow whether she had any pictures or other physical evidence that Morris met with Hoskins or Prentice and Dow told him no.

Dow said the investigation was a historical investigation because Prentice was jailed in Wichita Falls in November 2007 so they did not have the ability to make an undercover buy or use other investigative tools because it was over.

Stiller questioned Price’s credibility.

“Daria Price at that time [after her indictment and arrest] gave them a statement to save her behind,” Stiller said.

Price pleaded guilty and received deferred adjudication on the condition she testify should the District Attorney’s office request it.

Stiller also attacked Hoskins’ credibility, who was on probation for felony theft at the time.

“They have something they were trying to protect themselves,” Stiller said.

Testimony ended Tuesday afternoon and the jury was expected to hear closing argument and enter into deliberations today.

If convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity, Morris could face a sentence of between 15 and 99 years or life in prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000.

Seven named in the indictment have pleaded guilty and two cases have been dismissed.

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