Pubdate: Wed, 25 Jun 2003
Source: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (TX)
Copyright: 2003 The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Contact:  http://www.lubbockonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/841
Author: P. Christine Smith

FREED TULIA DEFENDANT FACES ARREST WARRANTS

Judge Ron Chapman has ordered three arrest warrants and set bonds totaling 
$3 million for Christopher Eugene Jackson, a recently released Tulia drug 
defendant accused of evading arrest and punching a police officer Friday in 
Pampa.

Chapman, a retired appellate judge who was specially appointed to preside 
over hearings in the Tulia drug bust matter, revoked the personal 
recognizance bonds he issued to Jackson on June 16.

After hearing of the new charges against Jackson, Chapman ordered three 
surety bonds, each in the amount of $1 million, for three counts of selling 
cocaine to undercover narcotics agent Tom Coleman during a 1998-99 
investigation, Swisher County District Clerk Brenda Hudson said. Jackson, 
31, remained in the Gray County Jail on Tuesday on $5,000 bail. "Anybody 
else who wants to pick up a new case will be dealt with similarly," Chapman 
told The Associated Press. "I didn't adopt them. I just admonished them."

In releasing Jackson and 11 others convicted in the Tulia drug busts, 
Chapman urged the 12 defendants to avoid run-ins with the law.

After the arrest warrants are issued and executed, Jackson will likely find 
himself back behind the bars of his state prison cell.

"What the sheriff will do, once he gets the warrants in hand, he'll contact 
Gray County and put a hold on (Jackson)," Hudson said of Swisher County 
Sheriff Larry Stewart.

"Judge Chapman is hoping that (Jackson) can be taken back to his (state 
prison) unit rather than held here."

Jackson was arrested Friday morning in Pampa after he allegedly punched 
Pampa police Officer Jarrett Parson, 24, in the face. Jackson had been free 
in the Tulia case less than 96 hours.

Jackson, who was arrested after allegedly fleeing from authorities, 
apparently was in Pampa visiting relatives. Officers went to check on a 
report of a suspicious man, "possibly intoxicated," who was standing in the 
road yelling at cars on U.S. 60, The AP reported.

Mitch Zamoff, Jackson's attorney, said Tuesday that he had no comment on 
Chapman's action.

Zamoff has said his client has a heart condition that causes Jackson to 
occasionally black out and act irrationally, which could explain his 
client's behavior, The AP reported.

"We're pleased that Mr. Jackson will be allowed to remain on bond in Gray 
County pending resolution of these charges," Zamoff said.

Chapman had ordered the release of Jackson and 11 other Tulia drug charge 
defendants, pending new trials, because he found Coleman, the sole witness 
in the drug sting trials, to be an unreliable witness.
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