Grubbs Denies Hellstern Cover-Up

[Original Post: Jan. 25, 2008]

Grubbs denies Hellstern cover-up. Click here for the full version

County Attorney Joe Grubbs will have to answer for this:

Included in a gold mail folder that was handed to me before tonight’s Republican Party Executive Committee lies an incident report [Case No. 06-16721*2] dated Oct. 3, 2006 — that would be during the election for Ellis County Court at Law No. 2 that pitted incumbent Judge Gene Calvert, R-Waxahachie, against Grubbs’ assistant, Cindy Hellstern, D-Ennis.

Complainant: Complainant alleges on Tuesday Oct. 3, 2006, a white man in a “maroon Dodge vehicle” was masturbating; he was “fully erected and he was not trying to hide the fact that he was exposing himself.” Note: These quotes are from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office incident report that I was handed – and the information was not redacted, but everything is spoken in context [sic]

Complainant a truck driver who makes regional trips to Seagoville, Forney, Terrell and other places (meaning he’s not from around here), wrote down the license plate of this Dodge four-door vehicle that he saw on the south-bound Interstate Highway 45 Mile Marker 263. The license plate: J25*NJT

That LP was registered to a Don and Cindy Hellstern of 400 W. Baylor in Ennis. Hellstern ran as a Democrat in both 2002 and 2006. She currently works for Grubbs in the DA’s office as a prosecutor.

Officer who took the report: Kenneth Hatcher
Officer (investigator) assigned: Michael Tobey
Offense: Disorderly conduct

Follow-up report #1: Daryl Spence (investigator)
Report #1 states:

This writer [Spence] attempted to contact the [complainant]. This writer left a message for the [complainant] to call this writer back.”

Follow-up report #2: Clint Tims (investigator)
Report #2 states:

This writer (Clint Tims #112) spoke with the complainant in this offense, [Complainant] by public service, phone # 847/804-6766 in reference to the offense reported. Writer asked [Complainant] if he could identify the suspect and the suspect vehicle in this offense & McDaniels’ advised that hecould. [Complainant] told this writer that the suspect was a w/m, mid 40’s or early 50’s, 220-240 pds., balding & was well dressed & he (suspect) was driving a ‘wine’ colored Dodge [four-door] Intrepid with TX LP# J25*NJT. Writer advised [Complainant]‘ that this offense was Class C misdemeanor, like receiving a speeding ticket & asked if he would be willing to testify in a court of law on the offense reported. [Complainant]‘ told writer that he was an over-the-road truck driver & that he usually made a run once a month to Seagoville, Forney, Terrell & Houston, TX, but if he needed to come down anytime sooner, he could. Writer told [Complainant] that this office would be back in contact with him upon further investigation into this offense. [Complainant] advised that he appreciated the call & would look forward to hearing from writer.

Of course, this never went to a court of law. In fact, according to investigators and defense lawyers who know about this case, this highly-sensitive report was quashed.

That, by the very definition, is a cover-up.

In 2006, according to the ECSO, Joe Grubbs’ office quashed and covered up an investigation into one of his top assistant’s husband for masturbating in his vehicle on Mile Marker 263 in Palmer on the night of Oct. 3.

This was at the height of the 2006 mid-term elections. Hellstern would go on to lose badly – again – to Calvert. But, had this issue gone out in the public beforehand, who knows the ramifications. Hellstern would have lost anyway, but still, it sat dormant until tonight.

DA probates hundreds of sex offenders. Click here for the full version of this paper

Ovilla PD: Click here for the full version of this paper

[Graphic]

This artwork was submitted by the infamous Pastor Mike Treis, who was the originator of the controversial 2006 campaign sign made famous in the GOP primary featuring Judge Gene Knize (click here to view that 2006 sign.)

Art Imitates Ellis County Life

Letter from Robert Trevino

I’ve blogged about the Robert Trevino case many, many times. It’s also available on the ECO Message Forum on the left-hand sidebar of this blog. It’s also located here: www.joegrubbs.com

With that said, here is Trevino’s letter to the citizens of Ellis County:

[Editing only for spelling and grammar; all else is verbatim]

Mr. Dauben,

Sir, I want to thank you for writing to me and that God has put it in your heart to remember me and that the seed laid in fertile soil where it has prosperous by labor and prayers to God, who is able. (Exodus 2:23-25) where God heard the children of Israel cried out and their cry came up to God because of the bondage, their grooming, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.

The story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 – where Joseph was first sold by his brother then falsely accused of attempt of sexual assault sent to prison, but God used Joseph to save many people from dying. So I pray that God will use me here to save people too and raised Joseph to [second] to Pharaoh in rank.

I have been incarcerated since 25, August 1995 falsely accused, tried by a specially all white jury who all had been a victim or a family loved one of a sex crime for a sure conviction. Defendent Vital Evidence withheld by Ellis County District Judge Gene Knize even when the judge outside the present of the jury acknowledged one of the main state witnesses Shawn Lankford impeach himself by a letter Shawn wrote to me on 4-12-1994 and proves Shawn fabricated his sexual assault charge against me. When Shawn filed his charge, it was in August 1994 after Patrick Lankford, his brother, had been filed “statutory rape” charge on a 12-year-old girl (Stacy Harris), who had been taken to the Waxahachie hospital emergency room for bleeding after having sex with Patrick for hours – no report on this was in court or the police reports which were taken at the ER room, nor the doctor’s DNA kit report, nor was Patrick Lankford an adult of 17 or 18 years old at the time when he had sex with Stacy Harris who was 12 years old. No arrest the police detective who had 4 1/2 years experience at the time as being in charge of crimes against persons and testify in court was Det. Billie Wiggins said that the reason she didn’t arrest Patrick was that no probable cause against this happened 4 August 1994 end at the tie of my trial 21 August 1995 after a year Det. Wiggins had not arrested Patrick but got Shawn, Patrick and his gang to file charges against me so Patrick would not go to court or prison! Patrick’s signed statement dated 23 Sept. 1994 where he first moved in my house was also withheld because it also proves that Patrick fabricated his charges saying he had moved into my house on 1st March or 1st April 1994; lied to Judge Gene Knize, withheld for a sure conviction.

Mr. Dauben, you got my permission to print this and any thing about my case and to talk wit attorney Udashen, 2301 Cedar Springs Road, Suite 400, Dallas, Texas.

Respectfully,

Robert Trevino

Notes from Trevino in margin: Shawn’s letter was thanking me, saying I was his homie and his best friend and that he should listen to me when I kept telling him good advice. But Shawn had falsely testified in court (see dates)

Editor’s note: the words “me” and “my” and “I” are in replacement of Trevino’s last name. For whatever reason Trevino used “Trevino” and not “me,” “my” or “I.

An Independent Sheriff

The question that voters need to be asking the prospective candidates for sheriff is this:

Q: Are you willing to be independent of County Attorney Joe Grubbs & County Judge Chad Adams?

In other words, can decisions, budget decisions and requests, staffing concerns and political-administrative decisions be made without the direction and influence of the county attorney or county judge?

Law enforcement works hand-in-hand with prosecutors, but to what extent is that “healthy?”

Your choices for Ellis County Sheriff:

GOP
Steve McKinney
Johnny Brown
James Ledbetter

Democrat
None

Libertarian
Mike Treis

Doris Phillips’ Murderer Didn’t Get Death

Huge news coming out from the case involving NBC Dateline’s Stone Phillips’s aunt. County Attorney Joe Grubbs was contacted by The Ellis County Press (me) this morning asking if (a) Ellis County Sheriff investigators were pressured by prosecutors to file charges against Phillips’ aunt as simply “murder,” not “capital murder; and (b) were there any discussions about giving this still-unidentified killer a plea bargain. And (c) the reasoning the prosecutors gave for not pursuing capital murder was that the DA’s office didn’t want to hire outside counsel to help, according to the investigator sources. Grubbs didn’t exactly answer those allegation questions directly either.

Grubbs did point out that prosecutors can only prosecute and make a case based on the evidence available; he denied that there were any discussions about a plea bargain.

However, this morning after the phone call, Grubbs went to the courthouse and met with his chief felony prosecutor, Don Maxfield, for over an hour (estimated, according to ECSO sources we’ve got in on this case). Don’t know the nature of the conversation, but one of the investigators told another source of mine that it was the first and only time he had seen Grubbs anywhere close to this case.

Phillips had an aunt that was found brutally murdered near Waxahachie — the suspect was caught (eventually) and the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office filed the case as a “capital murder” case — which would result in either life in prison or the death penalty if convicted.

This is going to be the Gilbert Garcia*** case of 2008, folks, just watch and see. For now though, people better be banging on Grubbs’ door and calling for chief felony prosecutor Don Maxfield’s ass. Maxfield is the one “prosecuting” this case, and if found to be true, we’re in for a very exciting election year.

Might I add, Grubbs is up for re-election this year as well (vs. Rodney Pat Ramsey).

GOP Primary (‘08) Money Trail

This is the Jan. 15 report from all of the candidates.

Note: I didn’t itemize every contribution or expenditure, just the “high-profile” ones.

Democrats are included in this list as well.

Grubbs Denies Hellstern Cover-Up

County Attorney Joe Grubbs responded to questions from Ellis County Press reporter Jennifer Salinas today: “I know where you’re going with this [and] I’m not going to get into it. That’s enough questions.”

Grubbs denied ever receiving the Hellstern incident report. His office “never” received any case and nothing was ever filed.

See Also:

Did Grubbs Cover Up Hellstern Case?

4-5 Witnesses Saw Report Delivered to Grubbs

Another Case Grubbs Wouldn’t Take

Joe Rust’s Son

I received in the mail today a copy of the incident report [07-03197] involving local real estate titan Joe Rust’s son Johnathon.

Some local defense attorneys have been buzzing about this case since November.

And here’s why: Rust and a friend were allegedly in east Waxahachie selling dope – this is from local defense attorneys, mind you. A bag of weed was foisted out of the side window – and two black teenagers run up, snatch the weed and hauls you-know-what down the street.

In the ensuing chase, Rust’s friend pulls a knife and it’s Rust that gets cut. The incident report states “Male walked in about 30 min ago to ER is a stabbing victim chest and back Johnathon Rust WM 092484.”

The charges against this black male: Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; robbery; aggravated robbery.

Here’s the thing that’s pissing off people: how can you be charged with robbery of a substance you don’t legally have a right to possess? If it’s a car that’s one thing. If it’s weed, why the robbery charges?

WPD Lt. Billie Pendleton (yes, that Billie Wiggins Pendleton) is shown in the report as having “reviewed” the case.

Prosecutors are reportedly set to bring these two black teenagers “to justice.” Yeah, right. What’s about to happen is that two white kids with personal political connections are about to get off and once again, two not-so-innocent black kids are going to be thrown in jail.

Report: Ennis PD Visited Don Hellstern

Another Ellis County Observer exclusive: the Ennis PD was called in response to indecent exposure. If you’ll remember from last week, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office filed this as a disorderly conduct charge – a Class C misdemeanor which would not have been forwarded to the DA’s office (Don Hellstern is the husband of Joe Grubbs’ assistant Cindy).

The gist: Cindy was running for Court at Law No. 2 as a Democrat at the time of this incident with her husband. She later lost, but had this been made public, imagine the backlash then. A meeting was arranged at the ECSO with Grubbs, defense attorney Mary Lou Shipley (herself a former DA) and several ECSO investigators, who allege that Grubbs was hand-delivered the incident report from the ECSO. (he denied receiving it)

Readers, if you’re new to the Hellstern/Grubbs case, please click this link.

Pay attention to the bold text in this incident report.

[EPD206002963]

On 10/03, 2006 at approximately 15-20 hours I, Officer Jeffery Bates was relieving dispatch when I received a call from Ellis County Sheriff’s Department in regards to Palmer looking for an indecent exposure suspect.

Upon talking with ECSO dispatch they stated that Palmer was looking for a vehicle bearing TX LP (J25NJT), [a] wine colored Dodge Intrepid that was traveling south bound and took the 253 exit. ECSO stated that the vehicle showed a return out of our city on West Baylor Street.

Upon leaving the station and traveling down West Baylor I located the maroon Dodge Intrepid bearing TX LP (J25NJT). The vehicle was located at 400 W. Baylor and a brief check of the vehicle’s exhaust was warm to the touch. Upon attempting to make contact with a property owner at the location I was unsuccessful and was about to leave the location when a white male came out of the house and wanted to know if he could help me.

Upon speaking with the man who identified himself as Don Hellstern w/m DOB 04/14/51 I advised him that I was gathering information for Palmer Police Department in regards to a white male subject driving a vehicle like his bearing the exact license plate that was on his vehicle. I asked Hellstern how many people drive his vehicle and he advised that him and his wife drive the car. I asked him if he was driving the car earlier and he stated about an hour ago. I asked an hour and he stated well about thirty minutes ago.

Mr. Hellstern was advised that the incident was in regards to indecent exposure and that Palmer PD had a complainant who wanted to file charges and that any further information that he needed would have to be directed to the Palmer Police Department. The complainant in this incident is [######]. No complainant contact was made by Ennis PD in regards to this complaint. Palmer PD was contacted by me and all information to this incident was passed on to Palmer officer Mendez #402. No further information is available at this time.

Jackpot.

See Also: The Ellis County Press front page last week

Sign Company to Sue Grubbs

[UPDATE- Grubbs' campaign is using direct-mail giant Ed Valentine]

The yard sign guy for County Attorney Joe Grubbs says the incumbent prosecutor made off with loads of yard signs – they’re visible around the county – and ordered another round, but Grubbs has refused to pay for the entire order. Valentine says they’ve already paid $1,000 for the signs.

But when Grubbs traveled to pick up the second shipment – he didn’t bring a check. And there’s the rub.

There’s a photo that’s being e-mailed around showing a big palette of Grubbs signs waiting for pick-up, but the sign guy says he won’t be delivering until a check is made out to him. Now this sign owner wants to sue to collect the rest.

More details will be available in The Ellis County Press.

This story isn’t as controversial as first thought. We’ll have the rest.

Johnny Brown & Joe Grubbs

Joey briefed me a bit about his relationship with Johnny Brown, an Ellis County sheriff candidate. Joey said he considered Johnny a good friend but still encouraged me to move forward with what I am about to write.

County/District Attorney Joe Grubbs appeared at Johnny’s Nay-sponsored “barn dance” over the weekend. Not that this is a problem (Joey chimes in during our conversation and says, “To be fair, James Ledbetter has showed up at Grubbs’ challenger, Rodney Ramsey’s events”), but one must ask themselves what dozens of supporters are doing publicly backing Brown.

Yard signs don’t determine the outcome of an election, but they project perception. The perception is that among every Brown sign there’s also a Grubbs one next to it.

It’s a fact that high-profile backers of Brown are working in close proximity professionally to Grubbs’ office, so it would be natural to assume that this relationship would materialize politically.

However, does Brown want the perception that the DA’s office is supporting him? Whether or not these guys are friends is not the issue. What matters is that of all of the corruption in this county, Grubbs’ fingerprints (Joey says it’s a 50-50 split between Grubbs and Judge Gene Knize) are all over it.

When and if Johnny Brown gets in the sheriff’s office as our new lawman, will we want someone aligned with the current DA administration? Perception is reality in politics.

Ramsey Crucified

Rodney Pat Ramsey was a no-show at last night’s GOP Women forum.

The Waxahachie Daily Light lit him up for it (see story below).

But I just have to tell the reading public that you haven’t seen anything yet. Just wait until The Ellis County Press hits stands tomorrow. Just wait. Those who got ticked at Ramsey being a no-show (and yet said nothing when Grubbs skipped the Feb. 9 forum in Midlothian) last night will be happy to know that the WDL’s little puppet prosecutor is the most disgusting piece of garbage in elected office that we have here in Ellis County.

[Notice] Ramsey was not in the building at all last night. Right before the forum began, I called his wife, who relayed the information that Ramsey was sick. I’m kinda glad he didn’t show up. The questions the WDL asked candidates were deliberately concocted to try to destroy his credibility. But that’s ok. After this week’s issue anyone caught with a Joe Grubbs sign ought to have the sex offenders we’re plastering on our front page move right next to them.

Did Grubbs Cover His Official Oppression Mark?

Did Joe Grubbs get his official oppression hand-slap from the state Bar sealed?

That’s what one local attorney is reportedly saying. Unfortunately, there’s a statute of limitations and I believe we’re too late.
Our incumbent county/district attorney – if this is found to be true – needs to come clean with his past. I mean, after all wouldn’t it be fair since the Waxahachie Daily Light rightly reported that Rodney Pat Ramsey sought to seal his own records?

Let’s be fair all around here. If Ramsey tried to seal his stuff, there’s a reason. Same goes for Grubbs. But this might be a little more difficult since “official oppression” is pretty serious.

Barton: ‘Photos Exist in Chitale Case’

Now here’s a whopper:

One of the victims – or someone close to the victims in the Dr. Chitale case (the Ennis doctor that sedated patients, took advantage of them, squirted semen on one of their faces, got probation) – has said that Congressman Joe Barton, R-Ennis, admitted to there being photographs involved in this case.

Now this is huge because this source says Barton himself said it.

Guess that’s why County Attorney Joe Grubbs has sued state Attorney General Greg Abbott to keep from information and documents in the Chitale case from being released.

Here’s what was posted:

I infact had a face to face discussion with Joe Barton on the case involving Joe Grubbs and the fact that his office is currently involved in a lawsuit against the AG’s office to deprive the victims of Aniruddha Chitale documents they are legally entitled to. At first mention of Chitale’s name Joe Barton said, “He’s the doctor who took photos of those women while they were under anesthesia.” Since photographs have never been mentioned publicly I was startled by this statement. Despite the fact that Joe Barton continued on to say that he avoids any perception by the public that his office might have any influence one way or the other over the DA’s office it was obvious that he had been priviledged to some details of the case that I had not been priviledged to. I was only there to ask him to request that Joe Grubbs’ office abide by the State of Texas’ ruling and the open records act since he is a representative of the citizens of Ellis County and would therefore be concerned with the rights of all those citizens.

It’s ironic that of all of my blogging and news reports, there have been two trials in the past two weeks involving sexual assault suspects. That’s unheard of for these cases to go to trial. It must pain assistant prosecutor Patrick M. Wilson to forgo plea bargaining in exchange for these trials. (one of which, defense attorney Mark Griffith secured a not-guilty verdict for his client in a jury deliberation record of four minutes)

That’s not to say all plea bargains are bad. It’s like annexation. Some annexations are good and needed. Some are not.

This is Why People Are Mad At Me

I get people from all spectrums telling me three different things:

1) “Joey, people in this county hate your guts.”
2) “Joey, keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t be afraid and never give up. I read your blog everyday. You’ve got balls.”
3) “Joey, you are going to make it big politically. We just gotta work on your tact a bit.”

Perhaps I should let people see just why there are so many “against” me:

DA probates hundreds of sex offenders. Click here for the full version of this paper

Ovilla PD: Click here for the full version of this paper

Grubbs denies Hellstern cover-up. Click here for the full version

The Waxahachie Daily Light calls the truth-telling “negative campaign tactics.” If truth-telling and reporting what’s really going on in this corrupt Starr County of the North region is “negative campaign tactics,” I’m the dirtiest campaigner in the history of this area.

I’m working on the tact, though, but I will say this: those who are offended by what I do have the most to hide. This has nothing to do personally with anyone, but if you’re lying with dogs like Grubbs, Knize, Cornelius, etc., you’re going to get fleas.

You folks can hate me all you want but I tell you what: your days of helping cover up for the worst corruption in the state are about to end. And I’ll be on your asses every day until the Lord comes back.

Grubbs’ WDL Pet JoAnn

Paul Richard Strange has pummeled Waxahachie Daily Light managing editor JoAnn Livingston for her Swiss-cheese article on the Rodney Ramsey campaign treasurer “controversy.”

The e-mails that JoAnn quoted were only a partial list. The Ellis County Press will publish the rest — the stuff that JoAnn didn’t want readers of her biased establishment paper to read.

Joe Barton Endorses Grubbs

Congressman Joe Barton, R-Ennis, does not speak for this Republican voter.

A very beautiful mail piece by the Joe Grubbs campaign states this about our incumbent county/district attorney:

Dear Friends,

Joe Grubbs is a family man who is well respected through out the community. He has demonstrated the utmost integrity serving the citizens of Ellis County as our District and County Attorney.

We can be proud of this servant leader, and I encourage you to support Joe in his campaign for re-election by voting in the upcoming Republican Primary.

Sincerely,
Joe Barton
Member of Congress

Barton needs a primary opponent the next time around. Any takers? This guy has a history of endorsing incumbents who have screwed county taxpayers to the hilt (Al Cornelius is the big-name I think of), and Barton’s antics in Washington (per his voting record) have not represented the GOP platform.

Since 2006, Barton’s voting record became conservative again (voting against most of the Democratic-controlled agenda’s spending bills) and I have praised him for it.

But this one sealed the deal for me.

I almost regret saying I voted for the congressman yesterday even though he was unopposed.

JoAnn Livingstone is Grubbs’ Pet

There’s a second part of this column that pertains to an editorial Roy Callender Sr. submitted. Folks will have to wait until The Ellis County Press hits news stands tomorrow to get the whole picture.

‘Negative campaign tactics’

JoAnn Livingston has no room to talk.
The Waxahachie Daily Light managing editor had the nerve to allege this newspaper of engaging in “negative campaign tactics” in her hit-piece on Rodney Pat Ramsey last week. The gist: Ramsey, who is vying for county/district attorney against incumbent Joe “I Put Sex Offenders on Probation” Grubbs, appointed Democrat Chuck Beatty as his treasurer. After The Ellis County Press exposed the fact an assistant prosecutor’s husband was caught committing a sexual act – and a report that was filed was quashed – Beatty had pressure applied by local Democrats – the assistant prosecutor, Cindy Hellstern, was running as a Democrat for Court at Law No. 2 in 2006, when the incident occurred.
Beatty resigned his position as Ramsey’s treasurer via e-mail and Ramsey replaced him with Midlothian attorney Todd Phillippi (the change can be found on Ramsey’s front-page newspaper ads in this paper the previous five weeks); however, Beatty reportedly released the e-mail communications about the treasurer controversy to Livingston at the Daily Light. And as is the norm for Livingston, she decided to publish partial transcripts, not the whole story.
Speaking of the story, her article about the treasurer flare-up made reference to Ramsey’s supporters engaging in “negative campaign tactics.” This wasn’t directed at one person in print, but the writing was on the wall: Livingston and her establishment/Grubbs-supporting backers were increasingly getting tired of having their favorite son/choir singing DA being “ripped to shreds” by this newspaper for his past record of allowing sex predators to walk free. Not only that, but these “negative campaign tactics” were largely my staff’s doing. I consult with the news department at this paper (I was a reporter here from 2001 – 2004) and hire and train the news staff. So a lot of our coverage is due to the philosophy that we’ll “defend truth and freedom.”

What Rodney Ramsey Says…

So far, two writers for the Waxahachie Daily Light (JoAnn Livingston and Floyd Ingram) have characterized this blog and The Ellis County Press as participating in “negative campaign tactics” (i.e., exposing Joe Grubbs’ record).

Here’s what Rodney Pat Ramsey had to say when asked about the articles last week:

(note: this Q&A was originally set for The ECP but due to space constraints, it is being provided online)

Q; What are your thoughts, concerns, comments for what has transpired news-wise over the course of the past four weeks as it relates to your opponent [Joe Grubbs]?

Ramsey: I have chosen not to focus on what is or isn’t happening to my opponent in this campaign. I have chosen instead to focus on the positive aspects of my campaign. I intend to make the necessary changes within the department to improve our performance while cutting the budget where possible. I believe we can make many new positive changes that will benefit the people of our county.

Q: What are you planning to change – if anything – based off of what you have read thus far?

Ramsey: I have many ideas for change I believe will assist the employees of District Attorney’s office in pursuing justice in a professional manner designed to protect not only the right of the victim, but also the rights of the defendant.
It always takes time to make the necessary changes when a new supervisor comes into office, but I believe those professionals within the office who have chosen to protect the interest of the citizens will remain loyal to their oaths and accept positive changes.

Q: On Day 1 after inauguration, assuming you are the new district attorney, what will your day be like, what decisions will be made, and how are your platform planks going to be implemented?

Ramsey: I would imagine that it would be a busy day as there are so many things that will need to be done. There will be numerous meetings and discussion among staff and personnel. I would hope that the transition would be made easier by the continued cooperation among the current staff during the first few days. I am sure that the operations of the office would remain constant while we discuss and implement my plans for the future under my administration.