Thursday, May 4,1989
The Battalion
Page 9
Horsin’ around
Members of the Texas A&M Polo Club com- pete in their final match of the year Sunday at
the Dick Freeman Arena.
Judge’s lenience in sentencing
killer sparks special hearing
AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas Supreme Court on
Wednesday appointed a special master to hold a hear
ing on a Dallas judge who said he was lenient in sen
tencing a convicted killer because the victims were ho
mosexuals.
Robert R. Murray, a former San Antonio appeals
court judge, said he will hear pre-trial motions in the
case May 11 in Dallas.
State District Court Judge Jack Hampton has been
the subject of investigations by the state Supreme Court
and State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Gay, lesbian and civil rights groups have called for
Hampton’s dismissal from the bench.
Last December, Hampton told the Dallas Times
Herald that he gave Richard Bednarski — convicted of
killing two men in a Dallas park — a 30-year prison sen
tence rather than life in prison in part because he
thought the victims were “queers cruising the street for
teen-age boys.”
Murray said he was not too familiar with the case.
“He (Hampton) said something about a light sentence
because they were homosexuals,” Murray said. “That’s
the extent” of what he knows.
“The purpose of the hearing is to develop a record,”
Robert Flowers, executive director of the Judicial Con
duct Commission, said.
“All the proceedings and accompanying papers will
be made public on convening of the hearing,” Flowers
said.
William Waybourn, president of the Dallas Gay Alli
ance, said he welcomed the trial-like hearing.
“We believe when the general public hears the back
ground information on the heinous remarks made in
this court case, they will be as offended as we were that
the remarks made by the judge ended up getting the
man a lighter sentence,” Waybourn said.
A spokesman in Hampton’s court said the judge
would not talk about the matter.
Attorneys for Hampton allege “the real complaint of
those who seek to oust Judge Hampton is that he disap
proves of the practice of homosexual sodomy.” The at
torneys also claim the Times Herald reporter inter
viewed Hampton under false pretenses.
The proceedings against Hampton, 57, can result in
one of three moves. Flowers said.
Murray will present his findings to the Judicial Con
duct Commission, which could dismiss the charges
against Hampton; publicly censure him; or file a peti
tion that the Republican judge be removed from office,
Flowers said.
A petition for removal would be referred to a seven-
judge tribunal chosen by the Texas Supreme Court
from the state’s 14 appeals courts.
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Legislator urges reducing state 5 s share
of profits from parimutuel race tracks
AUSTIN (AP) — Major horse rac
ing tracks will be delayed for years if
lawmakers do not change the pari
mutuel wagering law, a legislator
who favors reducing the state’s share
of track proceeds said Wednesday.
Rep. Hugo Berlanga said he
would poll members regarding sup
port for a proposal to reduce the
state’s take from tracks.
“There is no question in my mind
that we need to reduce that,” said
Berlanga, D-Corpus Christi. “We’re
looking at a four- to five-year delay
if we don’t do something during this
legislative session.”
The Texas Racing Commission
received no applications for a Class 1
parimutuel horse racing license for
the Dallas-Fort Worth or San Anto
nio areas by deadline. Those cities
and Houston are the three major ur
ban areas where Class 1 racing will
be allowed.
Such tracks were envisioned as
major facilities that would be among
the nation’s largest.
Berlanga said Gov. Bill Clements
at a lunch with House leaders indi
cated surprise at the lack of appli
cants.
“I told him that I thought it was
going to be imperative that we take a
very serious look in regards to chan
ging the takeout, if we were serious
about making Texas a leader in the
industry, and if we were in fact
going to get the economic benefit
that we know is there if we get pari
mutuel wagering off the ground and
in operation,” Berlanga said.
Without action this session, a de
lay would occur because it would be
another two years before the Legis
lature meets again in regular session,
and track construction also will take
time, Berlanga said.
“I’ve already had some members
on the floor indicate that they want
to do something,” Berlanga said.
House Speaker Gib Lewis said he
has not decided whether he supports
cutting the state’s take, but he
added, “I think with what has hap
pened, that certainly is an indication
that if we’re going to have horse-rac
ing in Texas that we need to make
some adjustment.”
Berlanga did not try to add the
change to a “clean up” parimutuel
wagering bill that won tentative
House approval Wednesday. He
said he first must gauge support for
the proposal.
The measure that was passed ad
dresses questions that have been
raised regarding the commission’s
statutory authority, according to a
House Research Organization analy
sis.
FDA revokes shelter’s right to food stamps
HOUSTON (AP) — The U.S. De
partment of Agriculture, saying it
found violations of regulations, has
stripped the city’s largest homeless
shelter for men of its authority to ac
cept and use food stamps.
Kay Blakley of the U.S. Depart
ment of Agriculture said Tuesday it
was quickly apparent that the Star of
Hope shelter was authorized for
food stamps based on incorrect in
formation.
“They truly are not licensed by
the (Texas) Commission on Alcohol
ism (and Drug Abuse) as a rehabili
tation center . . . so, we’re withdraw
ing their authorization to participate
in the food stamp program in any
fashion.”
Star of Hope has received an aver
age of $10,000 worth of food stamps
per month, but authorities Tuesday
said the shelter was not properly li
censed and was violating regulations
by accepting food stamps as rent for
upgraded beds.
Most of the food served at the
mission is purchased with food
stamps received directly from the
government under federal authori
zation contingent on the mission
holding a state license as a drug and
alcohol rehabilitation center.
Star of Hope officials two weeks
ago announced plans to close the
400-bed facility in the rented build
ing on Preston Street on Monday
and to reduce the amount of food
served at the shelter-owned La
Branch building by 1,200 meals per
day. The La Branch shelter was to
remain open and supply housing
and meals to 100 homeless men, in
cluding those in the mission’s reha-
GALVESTON (AP) — A Galves
ton County grand jury returned 134
indictments against 70 people ac
cused of taking part in an auto theft
ring.
A Harris County grand jury has
issued four indictments as a result of
the operation and is expected to is
sue another 23 against 10 people,
said Sgt. T.J. Hansen, who spear
headed the undercover operation
along with League City police Offi
cer Pat Bittner.
Seven indictments against five in
dividuals were handed down by a
Brazoria County grand jury. A Lib
erty County grand jury issued four
indictments against four people.
bilitation program.
It is not known whether the loss of
food stamps will affect those plans
for the La Branch building.
Officials of the Food and Nutri
tion Service and Texas Department
of Human Services went to Star of
Hope officials on Monday to investi
gate the allegations.
Most of tiie 92 vehicles recovered
have been turned over to insurance
companies that already have paid
owners’ claims, Hansen said.
Undercover officers paid just
$18,700 for the 92 stolen cars worth
$831,000 during a 14-month investi
gation, he said.
Members of the Galveston County
Sheriffs Department Organized
Crime Control unit paid one car
thief just $300 for a nearly new 1989
Cadillac recovered in the investiga
tion, officials said.
In addition to the automobiles,
police recovered about $100,000
worth of drugs and nearly $200,000
worth of stolen goods, mainly elec
tronic equipment, Hansen said.
Juries indict 83 for auto theft
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