Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jul 2002
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2002 Associated Press
Author: Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/tulia.htm (Tulia, Texas)

CHARGES EXPECTED TO BE DROPPED AGAINST LAST TULIA DEFENDANT

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Attorneys say charges are expected to be dropped next 
week against the last defendant accused in the 1999 Tulia drug bust, which 
drew national attention after critics said it was racially motivated.

Zuri Bossett, a 22-year-old single mother who lives in Amarillo and is 
eight months pregnant, was accused of selling 1.4 grams of cocaine to an 
undercover officer three years ago. Her trial was scheduled for Tuesday, 
the anniversary of the day 43 people were indicted for selling drugs to 
officer Tom Coleman.

Swisher County District Attorney Terry McEachern declined to comment on the 
specifics of the case, but confirmed in Friday's Lubbock Avalanche-Journal 
that the charges were expected to be dismissed.

Of those indicted in the bust, 37 were black, three were Hispanic and three 
were white, according to the Swisher County Clerk's Office. The U.S. 
Department of Justice investigated the bust and is still reviewing information.

Bossett's attorney, Jeff Blackburn, said his client was preparing to enter 
college on a basketball scholarship when she was accused of selling 
cocaine. She faced up to 20 years in prison if convicted for the 
second-degree felony.

"I can go on with my life now and not be scared every day that I'm going to 
get arrested and taken away from my children," Bossett said Thursday at a 
news conference in front of the Hale County Courthouse.

Blackburn called the agreement to dismiss Bossett's charges a "turning 
point in our general campaign to overturn these convictions and release 
everybody from legal problems because of Tom Coleman."

Coleman has been criticized for having no corroborating evidence to support 
the drug busts he made. Coleman has said a higher proportion of blacks were 
arrested only because he was working in the black community.

Eleven of those arrested in Tulia were found guilty and another 17 accepted 
plea agreements.

Blackburn said 14 people arrested during the raid remain in prison.
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