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“I don’t think it affects our case one way or the other,” attorney Scot Courtney from San Marcos said.
Courtney represents Lt. Ralph Buentello with the Victoria Police Department. A grand jury indicted Buentello, Police Chief Bruce Ure, former city attorney David A. Smith and Mayor Will Armstrong on charges that they leaked information and tampered with the investigation of the former sheriff, who accepted a plea deal on Thursday.
Buentello, Ure and Smith face charges of aggravated perjury, tampering with a witness, official oppression, misuse of official information and criminal conspiracy. Armstrong faces charges of misuse of official information and criminal conspiracy. All have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In past Advocate reports, Smith said he was worried the Ratcliff investigation had stalled and alleged a possible cover-up by the district attorney.
“I think they are vindicated in that apparently there was something to it,” Courtney said about the indicted officials.
While Courtney is disappointed prosecutors aren’t pursuing the original allegations in the Ratcliff case, he’s glad the case will be finished before his client’s case goes to trial.
“It may prevent some legal hurdles or obstacles or problems,” he said.
Wayne Meissner from Austin, Armstrong’s attorney, attended Ratcliff’s hearing on Thursday but said he couldn’t comment at the time.
Victoria Police Department officials chose not to comment on this case.
Greg Cagle from League City representing Ure and Randy Schaffer from Houston, representing Smith, couldn’t be reached for comment.
The next court hearing in these cases is set for July 25.
Tara Bozick is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6504 or tbozick@vicad.com.