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Winkler Nurse Takes Stand As First Witness Against Sheriff
What a difference a year makes. Once a railroaded criminal defendant forced to sit in court and listen to Sheriff Robert Roberts testify against her in a sham of a criminal proceeding, Anne Mitchell found herself front and center in the witness box against Roberts on Tuesday. During testimony that lasted all day, Mitchell told the jury the steps she took to address the poor medical care of Dr. Rolando Arafiles, and his friendly connections to Roberts and county prosecuting attorney Scott Tidwell, and administrative failures at Winkler County Memorial Hospital.
Roberts’ attorney attempted to paint Mitchell as having a personal vendetta against the good doctor, asking her if she said to a coworker “We need to get rid of that son of a bitch”. Oddly enough this is the same tack that landed Roberts and his cohorts in criminal court in the first place. While Mitchell said she did not recall making that statement, it was not out of the realm of possibility….and good for her anyway. they DID need to get rid of the son of a bitch.
From Odessa America Online by Jon Vanderlaan:
Mitchell filed the complaint against Arafiles anonymously in April 2009 along with Galle, which Leverett said was inappropriate and that she is required to sign any complaint she makes with the Texas Medical Board.
But Mitchell read a document provided by Glickler later in the questioning that said the hospital board informed the sheriff she made the complaint within regulations. The sheriff and county attorney still proceeded with the prosecution.
It was also somewhat confusing at times about who was on trial, with accusations and questions arising from the cases of the two nurses, the former hospital administrator, the doctor around whom the scandal began and the county attorney.
Mitchell, who held several administrative roles at the hospital, accused former hospital administrator Stan Wiley of changing policies and closing lines of communication to avoid airing problems with the embattled doctor.
Mitchell was questioned about her relationship with Arafiles and Wiley, who pleaded guilty to abuse of official capacity in March.
Mitchell said during the cross examination that she had not formed an opinion on Arafiles shortly after he arrived to the hospital, but defense attorney Woody Leverett asked her if she remembered saying to a coworker about Arafiles, “We need to get rid of that son of a bitch.”
She said she doesn’t remember saying that, but when asked if she could have said it, Mitchell said, “Maybe.”
Leverett asked if she wanted Arafiles fired, but she said she just wanted him to follow the rules.
Mitchell and Wiley also had differences of opinion regarding hospital procedures, she affirmed when asked by Leverett. Mitchell had been with the hospital since the mid-1980s and was offered the administrator job several times, she said.
Wiley joined the hospital in 2008.
Mitchell was acquitted by a jury of misuse of official information and charges were dropped against Galle shortly before Mitchell’s trial.
Wiley pleaded guilty in March to a misdemeanor charge of abuse of official capacity in exchange for his testimony, while Arafiles and Tidwell both still face charges.
The trial resumes today at 9 am. Read more HERE and HERE.
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