Texas Politics (Free subscription) | 11/20/2008
The cell-phone finds have been of particular concern, , because officials say the death-row inmate whose contraband cell phone prompted the lockdown in the first place has threatened the life of Senate Criminal Justice Committee Chairman John Whitmire, D-Houston, and Austin American-Statesman reporter Mike Ward.
Dallas Morning News (Free subscription) | 11/19/2008
... a statewide lockdown after condemned inmate, Richard Tabler, made threatening calls to state Sen. John Whitmire, chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, using a cellphone that had been smuggled to him. Whitmire said he was told one of the cellphones found Tuesday had a price tag on it, prompting concern it may be new. A spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Perry, who appoints...
Houston Chronicle (Free subscription) | 11/19/2008
... a death row inmate allegedly made threatening calls to Senate Criminal Justice Committee chairman John Whitmire, D-Houston, and shared his illegal cell phone with at least nine of his fellow inmates.Investigators determined some 2,800 calls were made from the phone from inside the Polunsky Unit near Livingston. Since the lockdown was lifted last week, officials have found a cell phone...
StandDown Texas Project (Free subscription) | 11/17/2008
... were ordered last month after Death Row inmate Richard Tabler made threatening calls to state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, using a cellphone that had been smuggled in. The Austin American-Statesman's Mike Ward, who broke the original story, posted more on the Postcards from the Lege blog, " Officials say inmate threatened lawmaker, reporter after cell phone bust ." Richard Lee Tabler,...
Houston Chronicle (Free subscription) | 11/15/2008
Prison investigators said Thursday that they received a letter this week from Richard Lee Tabler, 29, with threats against state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, the chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, which oversees prison operations.
