Thread: Amarillo`s sheriff convicted of accepting bribes

June 13, 2008, 6:09AM
Amarillo's sheriff convicted of accepting bribes


Associated Press


AMARILLO — A sheriff in the Texas Panhandle faces up to life in prison after being convicted of accepting bribes from a vendor who supplied food for the county jail.

Potter County Sheriff Mike Shumate was found guilty Thursday of engaging in organized criminal activity after a 12-woman jury deliberated about seven hours. He was acquitted on a separate count of accepting improper campaign contributions.

Shumate, who had lost in the March primary election, was removed from office after the verdict and taken into custody.

Selden Hale, Shumate's attorney, told the Amarillo Globe-News that he was crushed by the decision and that it was too early to discuss a possible appeal.

Shumate, 59, was accused of taking bribes to give food service contracts to Dallas-based Mid-America Services Inc. Prosecutors showed receipts and bank statements of Shumate attending about 36 meals paid by Mid-America executives or employees. Shumate testifed he had turned down $10,000 from Mid-America founder Jack Madera.

Hale told jurors during closing arguments that Shumate's ex-wife, who testified against him, was the "meanest woman in Amarillo" and was bent on destroying the sheriff.

"Everybody's scared of her, including him (Shumate)," Hale told jurors. "Give him the only thing he's got left. Please go back and give him his name back."

The case was prosecuted by the Texas Attorney General's Office. The sentencing phase of the trial begins Tuesday.



http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 35058.html

A woman scorned......gotta love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!