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Woods, Cheney plea guilty (Top Story 2-21-08)
Former mayor and department of public works director to be sentenced in May
By Lori Ann Lilley, Managing Editor

Both Keith A. Woods and Henry A. Cheney pleaded guilty to violations of federal law arising from a bribery scheme involving city of Brookshire contracts dating back to June 15, 2005.

A federal investigation that began several years ago lead to the arrest of former Brookshire mayor and current Economic Development Coordinator Woods and Cheney, former Department of Public Works Director on January 25.

As of press time Woods had been put on suspension without pay at his current position of EDC Coordinator. A meeting was planned for 6:30 Wednesday night to determine if the EDC would continue to employee Woods.

The two were accused of committing Federal Programs Fraud. The charges included bribery and taking kickbacks from a contractor on the condition that his company be awarded certain contracts from the city of Brookshire.

Woods and Cheney were both indicted on 6 counts Count 1: Conspiracy to commit federal programs fraud – bribe approximately $6,350; Count 2: Travel Act violation to promote state bribery – bribe approximately $300; Count 3: Travel Act violation to promote state bribery – bribe approximately $350; Count 4: Travel Act violation to promote state bribery – bribe approximately $2,800; Count 5: Federal programs fraud – bribe approximately $1,500; Count 6: Federal programs fraud – bribe approximately $500. Woods was charged in Counts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Cheney was charged in Counts 1 and 6.

“Woods and Cheney pleaded guilty to violations of federal law arising from a bribery scheme involving City of Brookshire contracts,” United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced.

Woods and Cheney entered their pleas before U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon at 10:30 a.m. last Friday.

Woods, and Cheney, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to solicit, demand and accept bribe money or kickbacks from a local contractor in exchange for the awarding of city contracts.

Specifically, they conspired to solicit, demand and agree to accept approximately $6,350 as bribes/kickbacks from a demolition contractor with intent to be influenced and rewarded in a series of transactions involving four City of Brookshire contracts worth approximately $13,250 and a transaction involving future city contracts.

The indictment also charged Woods with four counts of using the cellular telephone system in interstate commerce, to promote, manage or facilitate the bribery of a public official in violation of the Travel Act. Woods and Cheney were each charged individually with Federal Programs Fraud.

A conviction for conspiracy to violate Federal Programs Fraud carries a penalty of imprisonment of not more than five years and/or a fine not to exceed $250,000. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Harmon May 30, at 10 a.m. The defendants will remain on bond pending their sentencing.

This case was investigated by special agents of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Wright and Larry Eastepp.

Protestors march to courthouse (Top Story 2-21-08)
By Lori Ann Lilley, Managing Editor

The road from Prairie View to Hempstead was busy Tuesday morning with protestors demonstrating against the lack of early voting polls on the Prairie View A&M campus.

Hundreds of PVAMU students and supporters marched seven miles from Prairie View to Hempstead. The trip only takes minutes to drive, but hours to walk.

To prove their point the students, community leaders and members of the Prairie View community all began at 9 a.m. walking from the MSC on the PVAMU campus to the Waller County Courthouse steps hours later. Their mission was to let county officials know they will vote.

The group walked in protest to the lack early voting poll locations in Waller County. Prior to a special meeting called by Waller County Commissioner’s last week, the only place you could vote early in the county was at the courthouse. After the meeting three early voting places were added. The Waller County Community Center in Prairie View, Terra Verde Country Club in Hockley and The Brookshire Convention Center in Brookshire. Voters will be able to vote at these early voting locations on February 21 - 8a.m. to 5p.m., February 22 - 7a.m. to 7p.m. and February 23 - 7a.m. to 7p.m.

The students that marched from Prairie View to Hempstead waited in long lines to register to vote or to vote on the first day of early voting. Any resident of Waller County can vote at any of the early voting locations.

“We had a total of 554 votes cast on the first day of early voting.” said Debbie Holland of the Waller County Elections office.
An estimated 365 students from PVAMU voted on Tuesday. The line to vote went out the door of the courthouse and onto the road. Eight E-Slate machines were being used.

“The part that takes the longest is qualifying the voter,” said Holland, “the students were very polite while waiting for this long process.”

Statewide warrant round-up (Main News 2-14-08)
Defendants with thousands of unpaid traffic, parking, city ordinance and higher charge warrants will be targeted in this state-wide warrant round-up. Starting February 16, officers will arrest people with outstanding warrants pending before their respective courts.

Bank robbers flee scene in stolen vehicle (Main News 2-14-08)
No one was injured in last Thursday’s robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank located at the intersection of Highway 90 and Cooper Street.

Industrial accident leaves one man dead (Main News 2-14-08)
Scot Industries, a specialty tubing business located in Brookshire, Texas since 1988, was the sight of an accident that left one man dead last weekend. Dwight David Saracina of Houston, Texas, was killed instantly when pipes fell on him.

Rearraignment set for Feb. 15 for Woods and Cheney (Main News 2-14-08)
A court date of Friday, February 15 has been set for rearraignment in a federal case against former Brookshire Mayor Keith Woods and former Public Works Director Henry Cheney.

Waller County adds early voting places (Main News 2-14-08)
Waller County citizens will have more places to cast their early voting ballots. During a special meeting held Tuesday Commissioner’s Court decided to approve revisions to the early voting and election day schedule for the March 4th Presidential Primary Election.

RWWC installs new officers (Main News 2-14-08)
On January 15, RWWC installed new officer for the next two years.

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