Pubdate: Thu, 28 Jun 2001
Source: Amarillo Globe-News (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Amarillo Globe-News
Contact:  http://amarillonet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/13
Author: Greg Cunningham
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/tulia.htm (Tulia, Texas)

BUSINESSMAN INDICTED ON CHARGES

TULIA - A prominent Tulia businessman was indicted Wednesday on two
counts of indecency with a child and one count of possession of cocaine.

John Charles Sturgess, 43, allegedly exposed himself to a juvenile
male on June 18 and June 20, as well as touching the juvenile's
genitals on June 18, court records show. Sturgess also allegedly
possessed cocaine in the amount of more than four grams but less than
200 grams with the intent to deliver, according to court documents.

Sturgess has controlling interest of the Tulia Livestock Auction,
which, according to court testimony, was the site of many cocaine
purchases during a controversial 1999 drug sting.

Terry McEachern, 64th district attorney, presented the cases to the
grand jury Wednesday and said the investigation started when the
victim, a 16-year-old boy, reported the alleged molestation to his
father. The boy's father then reported it to Texas Ranger Garth Davis,
who conducted a three-day investigation along with McEachern's office.

"We definitely tried to keep the investigation short. That was a
priority," McEachern said.

The possession of cocaine charge came about by accident. When officers
arrested Sturgess on the indecency charge, they impounded his vehicle,
and during questioning, Sturgess told them there was cocaine inside,
McEachern said.

Investigators secured a warrant to search the vehicle and discovered
100 grams of powdered cocaine, McEachern said.

"We had been told that it was a possibility (that cocaine would be
found), but we were not targeting that offense," McEachern said. "We
were making the arrest on the charges of indecency."

Sturgess posted an $80,000 bond and was released last week, McEachern
said.

Sturgess' phone number is not listed, and a woman who answered the
phone at the auction would not say how to contact him or his attorney.

McEachern would not draw a parallel between Sturgess and the 1999 drug
sting, in which 46 people - 39 of whom are black - were arrested after
allegedly selling drugs to undercover agent Tom Coleman.

McEachern, however, pointed out that a majority of the alleged drug
buys were made at or near the auction of which Sturgess owns a part,
and several of the defendants, as well as Coleman, worked at the sale
barn.

"The only connection with the (1999) bust that I know for sure would
be that this person (Sturgess) owned a controlling interest in the
business where most of the drugs were bought," he said.
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