Former Sheriff's Deputy Pleads Guilty to Charges for Extortion, Stealing and Selling Drugs

Houston, Texas

A former Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit extortion, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Houston announced today. 

Richard Bryan Nutt Jr., 43, pleaded guilty Monday and was convicted before U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore to conspiring with others to use his position as a law enforcement officer to steal drug loads from dealers and split the proceeds with others after the stolen drugs were sold by co-defendants. 

Nutt's sentencing is set for June 6. Nutt, who was fired from the sheriff's office, is on bond pending sentencing. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison without parole for the conviction and a $250,0000 fine.

The conviction stems from a joint Houston Police Department and FBI sting operation initiated after HPD obtained information that members of law enforcement were robbing shipments of narcotics in Houston.

Prosecutors say that on Dec. 15 Nutt met with co-defendants Nathaniel House, 37, Richard Jerome Banks, 38, John Edward Scott, 34, and Danny Wayne Bell, 40. 

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Houston Mayor Fears Release of Tape Depicting HPD Beating Teen Will Hurt Officers Chances of "Fair" Trial

Houston, Texas 

Houston's mayor said Thursday that the release of a video showing several Houston police officers last March allegedly kicking, punching and stomping on a handcuffed teenager could jeopardize the chances for a fair trial for those officers involved in the case.

"We don't want to do anything to jeopardize the prosecution of these police officers," Mayor Annise Parker said Thursday.

Last year, a federal judge granted a request from Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos to block the release of the footage, saying pretrial publication would likely prevent the four HPD officers from receiving a fair trial on misdemeanor charges of oppression.

Houston police Chief Charles McClelland suspended eight officers within three days of receiving the tape last year. Three other officers were fired without being charged. Five additional officers received two-day suspensions.

In June, Andrew Blomberg, Phil Bryan, Raad Hassan and Drew Ryser were indicted on misdemeanor official suppression charges and fired. Bryan and Hassan also were charged with violation of the civil rights of a prisoner, also a misdemeanor.

Heights community activist John Branch said he suspects the tape was withheld to prevent the grand jury from returning harsher charges.

"If that was me beating the hell out of somebody, and they caught me on video doing it, they would probably get me with attempted murder," Branch said.
No felony charge

Felony charges for assault were not available to grand jurors because Holley did not receive "serious bodily injury" under the law.

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Liberty County Police Captain Convicted of Selling Police Ammo To Buy Guns To Sell Through His Own Business

Cleveland, Texas

A 56-year-old veteran peace officer has been convicted of federal firearms and mail fraud violations in the Eastern District of Texas announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Harry Leroy Kelley, a Captain with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, was found guilty by a jury of possession of stolen ammunition and two counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield.

According to information presented in court, from 1992 to 2009, Kelley served almost exclusively as a police officer for the Cleveland Police Department in Liberty County, Texas, and for a short time in 2009, as a captain with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. During a portion of that time, Kelley had control over Cleveland Police Department’s firing range and at least 100,000 rounds of 40 caliber hollow-point semi-automatic ammunition.

Those rounds had been specifically manufactured for use by law enforcement officers and were provided to Kelley for use by federal agents who were required to qualify at the firing range.

Instead of using the rounds of ammunition for the intended purpose of qualifying Cleveland Police Department law enforcement officers at the range, Kelley instead converted the ammunition for his own use by exchanging it for 86 new weapons which he could sell through his business, K Ventures, and providing some of that same ammunition to customers who purchased new firearms from K Ventures.

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Warning: Disturbing Video Houston Police Department Did Not Want Released of Teen Being Repeatedly Kicked & Punched by Officers in High-Profile Case Last Year

Houston, Texas

For more than nine months, we've been following the story of Chad Holley, a teen who said he was beaten by police officers during an arrest.

Every patrol cop in this story has been told the video is out. The mayor wouldn't let you see it -- or the district attorney or the police chief.

We've all been told it's graphic and disturbing, and we remind you it is, as we show the video so many Houstonians have wanted to see.

It was an afternoon in March when a security camera captures the end of a Houston police pursuit. Burglar Chad Holley tries to make a run for it, but he's clipped by a police car and falls on the ground. He clearly puts his arms out in the surrender pose then folds his arms before police move in.

The first officer stomps on Holley's head and he's repeatedly kicked. We counted four officers doing the kicking.

Then one officer lands five kicks. It looks like the kicks are landing on Holley's head.

Holley has been on the ground with cops on top of him for about 20 seconds and then one officer lands five heavy punches.

The officer who did the kicking in the beginning does it again -- this time from behind. Then he stomps on the back of his leg.

And then just before Holley is picked up to be taken to a patrol car, there's another lick. 

But now we make this video public -- months after the district attorney, the police chief and the mayor refused to let you see it.

Four Houston police officers were indicted for what is seen on the video but on misdemeanor charges of official oppression -- not assault.

Twelve officers were disciplined in the wake of the Holley case, but many have been given their jobs back against the city's will.

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Texas DPS Trooper Pleads Guilty in Steroids Case

Kerrville, TX

A Texas DPS trooper whose 2010 trial on drug-related charges ended in a mistrial has pleaded guilty in a steroids investigation.

On Monday, in Kerrville, Jeff Jerman pleaded guilty to three counts of delivery of a controlled substance.

His November trial ended when a juror said that she believed, before hearing any evidence, that Jerman was guilty.

Defense attorney Alan Brown says Jerman will be sentenced March 11. Jerman faces up to two years behind bars and a fine of up to $10,000.

According to authorities, Jerman admitted to selling $8000 worth of steroids to an undercover police officer in September 2009.

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Brookshire Officer Fired, Faces Charges of Stealing From Citizen While On-Duty

Brookshire Officer Fired, Faces Charges: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

Brookshire, Texas

A Brookshire police officer is without his usual job and facing charges, following accusations that he stole from a citizen while on duty.

According to a press release from the Waller County Sheriff’s Office, Officer Charles Jerome Cole was arrested and served with two grand jury indictments on Saturday.

The charges included Official Oppression (a misdemeanor) and Theft from Person (state jail felony). The press release did not offer details into what took place, saying only that Cole is accused of committing the crimes about three months ago.

The charges surfaced, following an investigation led by the county district attorney’s office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Texas Rangers, Waller County Sheriff’s Office, and the Brookshire Police Department.

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