Former Harris county deputy Richard Nutt pleaded guilty in federal court on extortion charges.
According to the article, Nutt faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
I'm all for throwing the book and locking him away for 20 years. As a law enforcement officer, the public trusts him to uphold and enforce the law. Nutt betrayed the public trust. With his crime as a public servant, punishment should be severe.
Do I hold public servants to a higher standard? Absolutely. Corruption is lethal to society. Police and elected official's power derives from society. When they abuse that power, it destroys the basic foundation of our society.
Look at country's with corrupt government. They sap resources for personal gain. Resources that rightfully belong to the people. The people and society must benefit from those resources. By allowing companies and entrepreneurs to conduct business and allow markets to rule, society benefits. In corrupt governments, nepotism and cronyism horde the profits.
In Nutt's case, he not only broke the law but cooperated with the criminal element he is supposed to stop.
Showing posts with label Corruption Watch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Corruption Watch. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Corruption Watch - Richard Nutt Part 3
One thing I failed to mention in the Richard Nutt case is that Judge Kevin Fine reduced Nutt's bail. The bail was dropped from $200,000 to $20,000 while his co-defendants remained jailed with no bond.
The judge faced heat for reducing the fine without a hearing. Prosecutors were upset. I looked for a follow up if any ethics charges had been leveled but found none.
A copy of the criminal complaint is posted online.
The judge faced heat for reducing the fine without a hearing. Prosecutors were upset. I looked for a follow up if any ethics charges had been leveled but found none.
A copy of the criminal complaint is posted online.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Corruption Watch - Richard Nutt Part 2
In my inaugural entry of Corruption Watch, I outlined the pending case against former Harris County deputy Richard Nutt and his drug rip sting.
Prosecutors obtained an indictment in federal court against Nutt and four other people on cocaine possession and distribution charges.
Nutt is currently free on $50000 bond but must remained confined to his residence. The defense filed a motion seeking to allow Nutt leave his house with a monitoring device and have a set curfew. Nutt wishes to seek employment. The prosecution and pre-trial supervisory do not object to the motion. It's now up to the judge to rule.
There has also been some controversy about Judge Kevin Fine reducing bail for the former deputy. If nothing else, it was a breach of courtroom ethics by not having all parties present.
Prosecutors obtained an indictment in federal court against Nutt and four other people on cocaine possession and distribution charges.
Nutt is currently free on $50000 bond but must remained confined to his residence. The defense filed a motion seeking to allow Nutt leave his house with a monitoring device and have a set curfew. Nutt wishes to seek employment. The prosecution and pre-trial supervisory do not object to the motion. It's now up to the judge to rule.
There has also been some controversy about Judge Kevin Fine reducing bail for the former deputy. If nothing else, it was a breach of courtroom ethics by not having all parties present.
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