Law Med Blog

Winkler Atty Tidwell Not Indigent Judge Rules

January 07, 2012 lawmed No comments

No one can say just how many lessons former Winkler County Attorney Scott Tidwell will need before he begins to consider the obvious facts that he is not the smartest person in the room, or in possession of any sort of brilliant legal mind, but he got another one on Friday.

Tidwell was convicted in October on two counts each of felony retaliation, felony misuse of official information and misdemeanor official oppression for his role in bringing about the Winkler County Memorial Hospital whistle-blowing nurses trial. He was sentenced to four months in jail, 10 years probation and a $6,000 fine. Despite the overwhelming evidence presented against him, and his decision to present no defense whatsoever or call any witnesses, Tidwell has filed an appeal.

Part of the required appellate process requires the appellant to request the clerk of the trial court to prepare a copy of the case … (Continued…)

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Texas Attorney General News Release Re: Dr. Arafiles

November 09, 2011 lawmed No comments

lens17813902_1304018572texas-attorney-general

The following is a news release from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas:

11/07/2011 Former Winkler County Memorial Hospital Physician Sentenced for Scheme to Fire Nurses In 2009

Rolando Arafiles Jr. to serve jail time, surrender medical license

KERMIT – A former Winkler County Memorial Hospital physician today pleaded guilty to misusing his position and coordinating with local officials to retaliate against two nurses who filed an anonymous complaint against him with the Texas Medical Board.

Rolando Arafiles Jr., 59, pleaded guilty to two third-degree felonies – misuse of official information and retaliation. Visiting Judge Robert H. Moore III sentenced Arafiles to five years deferred adjudication probation, 60 days in the Andrews County Jail and a $5,000 fine. Arafiles also must surrender his license to practice medicine.

With today’s guilty plea, Arafiles admits to urging former Winkler County Sheriff Robert Roberts and County Attorney Scott Tidwell to … (Continued…)

SHOCKING: Convicted Attorney Tidwell Appointed To Represent County

October 18, 2011 lawmed No comments

It is as if Winkler County Texas exists in an alternate universe. In that bizarre world, sense and reason are replaced by lunacy and a strange force that inhibits critical thinking.

It has been confirmed that Winkler Justice of the Peace Delynn Trammel has appointed Scott Tidwell to represent the county in a hearing today regarding the custody of neglected horses. Yes, that’s right, former Winkler County attorney Scott Tidwell, recently convicted of multiple felonies and sentenced to 120 days in jail, removed from his position as county attorney due to that conviction, and the target of a review of his license to practice law by the State Bar Association, is singled out by a justice of the peace as her choice to represent the county in court. Apparently Tidwell has not yet begun serving his jail sentence.

What can one even say in the face of such abject … (Continued…)

Listen: Tidwell Call Girl Speaks Out And So Does Law Med

September 26, 2011 lawmed No comments

It was a call girl and Law Med who were guests on the “conservative” Odessa Observer’s live Internet Radio Broadcast. Now that there is some good radio folks!! One of the call girls with first hand knowledge of the recent allegations that Winkler County attorney Scott Tidwell, currently on trial for a number of felonies related to his role in the Winkler County Nurse scandal, paid up to $4,000 per session, for sex. Apparently Tidwell has a bit of a temper during sex, is not very nice to women, even the one’s he pays to screw him while he tells them he loves them.

Law Med joined the conversation for the last half hour, giving background on the shenanigans that have gotten Tidwell to this point.

At aprox 70 min, listen to “Trixie’s” version of events. We join in about 10 min after that. Push the play button below.

CORRECTION… (Continued…)

Hookers: Winkler County Atty Scott Tidwell Paid $4,000 For Sex

September 20, 2011 lawmed 4 Comments

Ah, Winkler County, Texas.

This Blog can never again expect such a gift that keeps on giving. We knew from the start back on July 21, 2009 when we first called shenanigans on the county attorney and local sheriff that the goings on down Texas way were going to be juicy…but honestly we could NEVER have imagined just how ‘fall off the bone, finger licking good’ a batch o’ scandal they could serve up! We have however done our best to document the ongoing soap-operatic story of the biggest little corrupt county (now insert “whorehouse” here somewhere) in Texas, even creating an entire special section devoted to the cause.

And FINALLY after multiple felonies imagined and real, hocus-pocus witch-doctor-like medicine, criminal persecution and prosecution of local societies most conscientious medical professionals by indicted-awaiting trial or already convicted and jailed local officials, hospital administrators fleeing town without a peep by rushing … (Continued…)

WINKLER SHERIFF ROBERTS SENTENCED TO JAIL

June 14, 2011 lawmed 3 Comments

Roberts got off easy…..well, easy-ish. The jury has sentenced Roberts to four years felony probation for the two counts each of misuse of official information and retaliation. Roberts has also been sentenced to serve 100 days in jail on each of the four felony counts to be be served concurrently. He will also have to pay a $6,000 fine.

Roberts will be automatically be removed as Winkler County Sheriff and will have to surrender his peace officer’s license. One down and two to go.… (Continued…)

WINKLER SHERIFF GUILTY ON ALL SIX COUNTS

June 14, 2011 lawmed No comments

A jury in Midland Texas has just found Winkler County Sheriff Robert Roberts GUILTY on all six counts. The jury deliberated for about two hours before delivering their verdict. Roberts faces up to 10 years in prison when the penalty phase begins later today or Wednesday.

Law Med predicted a guilty verdict based on the mountain of damning evidence and testimony provided against the sheriff. He mounted a flimsy “I’m a good guy” defense. He had no choice since his actions were indefensible. Dr. Rolando Arafiles and county attorney Scott Tidwell must be seeing the writing on the wall today as they await their turn in the dock.… (Continued…)

Jury Gets Winkler County Sheriff Case Today [VIDEO]

June 14, 2011 lawmed No comments

As this goes to press the attorneys in the criminal trial of Winkler County Sheriff Robert Roberts are delivering their closing arguments to the jury. Closing arguments and jury instructions should be completed by mid-day and once completed the jury will be given the case for deliberation. Law Med would expect a verdict before days end but juries can be unpredictable. But let’s face it…this is not a complicated case.

Jurors certainly will not have to spend much time sifting through the evidence presented by the defense. Yesterday’s defense witnesses spent the morning telling the jury what a great guy the sheriff is. Defense witnesses Friday did more of the same with some ‘Anne Mitchell is a hard ass’ theme ribboned throughout. The defense rested its case, such that it was, around 11am yesterday. After some bickering amongst the attorneys as to when closing arguments should begin, the judge left … (Continued…)

Medical Board Witnesses Blast Sheriff Roberts In Court

June 10, 2011 lawmed No comments

In explosive testimony during the criminal trial of Winkler County sheriff Robert Roberts, the Executive Director of the Texas Medical Board and a Board investigator buried Roberts and his cohorts from the stand yesterday. They described the apathetic and even intimidating responses they received when they expressed concerns over the activities of the local officials. Mari Robinson, the executive director, testified that the Board was intentionally deceived by the sheriff, and when she contacted County Attorney Scott Tidwell was dismissed.

Linda Lancaster, an investigator with the medical board, said she was frightened by an encounter with the sheriff while in Kermit obtaining medical records for the investigation. Roberts approached Lancaster and another investigator that was with her, Marla Brooks, and in what she described as a “curt” and “authoritative” manner, told them they were at cross purposes in the same investigation.

The second Winkler County nurse at the center of … (Continued…)

Winkler Nurse Takes Stand As First Witness Against Sheriff

June 08, 2011 lawmed No comments

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 … (Continued…)

Petition to Remove Winkler County DA Fostel Withdrawn

February 07, 2011 lawmed No comments

From Odessa American

Winkler County Attorney Scott Tidwell filed a non-suit motion Tuesday to dismiss the petition for removal of office of District Attorney Mike Fostel.

The motion was granted the same day by Judge Robert H. Moore III and was filed Wednesday.

The petition was brought against the oft-ill Fostel by Kermit resident and Winkler County Hospital Board member John Walton, who claimed in the petition that, since March 2009, Fostel “has not exercised any duty of the office, including correspondence, review of files, assistance of law enforcement, appearances in court or any other matter.”

Fostel was in and out of the hospital, and at home recovering from surgeries from Sept. 30, 2009, until he returned to work full time at the beginning of this year. However, he said he worked half days for the majority of that time, and all the work required of the office was completed.… (Continued…)

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