Pubdate: Wed, 2 Apr 2003 Source: Amarillo Globe-News (TX) Copyright: 2003 Amarillo Globe-News Contact: http://amarillonet.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/13 Author: Greg Cunningham Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/tulia.htm SWISHER COUNTY TO PAY $250,000 FOR IMMUNITY TULIA - Swisher County officials insulated the county and its employees against fallout from the controversial 1999 Tulia drug sting, but that insulation will cost a quarter of a million dollars. In an emergency meeting Tuesday, county commissioners unanimously voted to pay a settlement of $250,000 to the defendants in exchange for immunity from civil suits. Half the money would come from county coffers with the other half paid by the county's insurer. "The decision today was not about the guilt or innocence of any of the defendants," said Swisher County Judge Harold Keeter in a news release. "It was about protecting the taxpayers of this county and bringing closure to a situation that has disrupted and occupied our citizens for 3 1/2 years." The settlement was negotiated with attorneys representing the defendants. The money will be distributed among the defendants using a scale that factors in prison time served. The decision to pass the settlement came only minutes after Judge Ron Chapman, presiding over a courtroom three floors above the commissioners' court, said he would ask the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to vacate the convictions and guilty pleas of all the defendants. The county's settlement was precipitated by Chapman's decision because any defendant cleared of wrongdoing would then be able to sue the responsible agencies, which could include the county. Defense attorney Jeff Blackburn said he was pleased Swisher County stepped up to compensate the defendants and felt the decision was a wise one. Blackburn said with Swisher County settling, attorneys may focus on the Panhandle Regional Narcotics Trafficking Task Force, which ran the Tulia operation. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth