Pubdate: Wed, 10 Apr 2002
Source: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (TX)
Copyright: 2002 The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Contact:  http://www.lubbockonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/841
Author: Linda Kane 
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/tulia.htm (Tulia, Texas)

DRUG CHARGES DROPPED AFTER TULIA CASE COLLAPSES

TULIA - Drug charges against a black woman from Tulia were dismissed Tuesday
after overwhelming evidence shot holes in criminal allegations brought
against her by a police undercover agent.

Jeff Blackburn, an attorney for Tonya White, said the evidence that proved
her innocence also casts doubt on the trustworthiness of Tom Coleman, a
white drug agent whose operations in 1998 and 1999 led to the arrests of 43
people, 37 of whom are black.

Special FBI agent Tim Reid in Amarillo said Tuesday that he will add White's
dismissal to his investigation of the Tulia arrests, which already has been
sent to the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., for review.

Coleman had accused White of selling him drugs on Oct. 9, 1998. White has
contended for three years that she didn't sell drugs to Coleman because she
was living in Oklahoma at the time. She now lives in another state and could
not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Bank records show that White was living in Oklahoma on Oct. 9, 1998, and
made a deposit at her bank that day for $168.

In a report made to the drug task force in Amarillo, Coleman stated that he
approached White in Tulia that day and asked her for drugs.

"Agent Coleman paid Tonya M. White ... $190 of Task Force money at
approximately 10:15 a.m. on Oct. 9, 1998," said the report, which was signed
by Coleman. "Tonya M. White gave agent Coleman a plastic baggie containing a
white powder substance believed to be cocaine."

Coleman, who lives in Waxahachie, did not return calls to The
Avalanche-Journal.

Blackburn said that White withdrew $8 that day and had to sign for it,
further proving that she couldn't have sold drugs to Coleman.

"What it says for the cases and all the cases that have been made in Tulia
... we have absolutely solid evidence that can't be argued with, that this
man's a liar," Blackburn said. "That he's willing to send innocent people to
prison ... to further his own career."

District Attorney Terry McEachern, the man who prosecuted related drug
cases, said the recent developments should have no bearing on other cases
built by Coleman.

White has two brothers and a sister in prison based on Coleman's testimony
that they sold drugs to him.

Coleman spent 18 months working undercover in Tulia, 63 miles north of
Lubbock, and made drug cases against a large portion of the small town's
black population. Coleman worked alone and used no audio or video
surveillance. Little or no corroborating evidence was introduced during the
trials.

The cost of the drug trials spurred a 5.8 percent increase in Swisher
County's property taxes.

After going undercover in Tulia, Coleman was charged with theft and abuse of
his official position as a deputy in Cochran County, where he previously
worked. He was accused of stealing gas and leaving a trail of debt. He paid
nearly $7,000 in restitution and the charges were dropped. Swisher County
Sheriff Larry Stewart and District Attorney Terry McEachern have stood by
Coleman and his testimonies against the drug defendants.

On Tuesday, Stewart refused comment.

Of Coleman's credibility, McEachern said, "I believe everything that he has
told me. I believe that he has made some mistakes."

He added, "No, it's not OK to make a mistake. Are mistakes made
unintentionally? I'd say I've made mistakes in my life and I bet you have,
too."

McEachern signed papers dismissing the case.

"I do not feel like dismissing this case is going to affect the other
cases," he said. "I can see where a defense attorney might want to use this
in future trials to discredit the credibility issue of Tom Coleman."

Blackburn said the dismissal is a significant step in proving that Coleman,
the star witness in the drug trials, lacks credibility.

"This is really huge," Blackburn said. "This is direct, solid evidence this
guy just lied. We have caught him lying about one of the Tulia defendants,
and we've caught him red-handed."

MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk