DALLAS (AP) — Authoritiesin a Texas county where a drugenforcement program wasallegedly used to shake downblack and Latino highway trav-elers are returning more than$100,000 taken during the traf-fic stops.

The stops in Tenaha, whichoften resulted in people beingforced to hand over cash with-out any charges being filed,have led to multiple lawsuitsand two federal criminal inves-tigations.

District Attorney KennethFlorence said Shelby Countyhas dismissed all of its pendingforfeiture cases, even thosewithout a connection toTenaha, in what he describedas an effort to turn the pageafter an agreement wasreached in August to settle aclass action lawsuit stemmingfrom the stops.

“I just don’t think you couldget anything done with any ofthose cases,” said Florence,who was appointed by Gov.Rick Perry in August and isrunning for the post in nextweek’s election. “They are alltainted, so to speak.”

Asset forfeiture laws providea civil procedure for authori-ties to seize property theybelieve is linked to criminalactivity. The laws are designedto take so-called “dirty” moneyoff the streets and allow it to beused to fund law enforcementefforts. But critics believe thelaws are too easily abused, andthey have frequently pointed toTenaha, a town of 1,160 nearthe Louisiana border, as anexample.

The class action alleged thatinnocent motorists of colortraveling on U.S. Highway 59were threatened with moneylaundering charges if they did-n’t turn over their cashthrough forfeiture agreements.Although many of themotorists initially agreed tothe forfeitures, they were ableto get their money back afterhiring attorneys and challeng-ing the legitimacy of the pro-ceedings.

The settlement, which stillneeds a judge’s approval, willrequire the county to take stepsaimed at eliminating racialprofiling in its law enforce-ment.

An Associated Press reportlast year detailed how some ofthe stops also resulted in sus-pected drug traffickers receiv-ing light sentences or escapingcriminal prosecution altogeth-er for giving up their cash.Those cases netted the countymore than $800,000 in less thana year.

They were prosecuted by the

county’s former district attor-ney, Lynda Kaye Russell, whoretired at the end of last year.Russell has not responded torepeated requests for comment,and she asserted her FifthAmendment right against self-incrimination for every ques-tion in a deposition for theclass action lawsuit.

The money that remains withthe county accrued from forfei-ture cases that have languishedbecause of competing claims ordefendants who hadn’t beenproperly served with courtpapers, records show. It has beenplaced in the court registry untilpeople can prove it’s theirs.

Luis Rivera, of Brockton,Mass., is among those who

were notified that they have apossible claim to some of theremaining cash. He and a com-panion, both of whom arePuerto Rican, were arrestedafter being stopped four yearsago in Tenaha for “followingtoo close and failure to drive ina single lane,” records show.

Joe Krowski, an attorney forRivera, said his client ispleased he may soon get hismoney but remains trauma-tized by the two days he spentin a Texas jail.

“All of a sudden, they takeyour possessions and stick youin a cell when you didn’t doanything wrong,” Krowskisaid. “How much scarier does itget?”

T O D AY

Blood driveWells Fargo Bank and Hobbs

Rotary Club are having a blooddrive from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at theWells Fargo Community Room.Call Kathie Wiseman at 392-3612for more information.

S AT U R D AY

Discussion groupProfessor Dwight Pitcaithley of

NMSU will moderate Let’s TalkAbout It: Making Sense of theAmerican Civil War at 1 p.m. atthe NMJC library. Topic will be“War and Freedom.”

Prayer breakfastUniversity of the Southwest has its

15th Annual Lea CommunityPrayer Breakfast. A full breakfastat the Lea County Event Centerwill be served from 7:30-8 a.m. ata cost of $3 per person and theprogram will begin at 8:15 a.m.Special speaker for the event isDr. Lynn Shaw of Hobbs. His mes-sage will be based on Psalm118:24: “This is the day the Lordhath made; let us.” For moreinformation about this time ofprayer and praise, call LindaChapman at 575-492-2107 orLaurie Dean at 575-492-2108.

Craft showThe Lovington Chambers’ fall fes-

tival arts and craft show is from10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Lea CountyFairgrounds. Free admission.

Residential cleanupThe City of Hobbs is hosting the

final phase of the ResidentialCommunity Cleanup. If you livenorth of Sanger and east ofFowler within the city limits, thisis your chance to do your fallcleaning. Have your items curb-side by 8 a.m. Saturday morning.City crews will be going downevery block in this area to pickup unwanted items includingsuch items as couches, tires (lim-ited to four passenger or lightduty truck tires), pesticides, paintand tree limbs that are bundledand no longer than four feet inlength. Have the items at curb-side and not in a personal trailer.For more information, call theParks and Recreation Office at

397-9291.

Lea County DanceThe Lea County Dance at the VFW

in Lovington, one mile north ofLovington on the TatumHighway, will be from 7-9:30p.m. Cost is $5 per person withpotluck refreshments. Class Actwill play.

Cowboy Hall of FameLea County Cowboy Hall of FameAwards Banquet will be held at 6p.m. the Lea County EventsCenter. The annual Cowboy Hallof Fame Banquet will be present-ing the Bronze Cowboy Award tohonor two people with a richranching history in Lea Countyand the Silver Concho Award,honoring a person for excellencein public service. You must be amember to attend the banquet.

Silhouette ClubThe High Lonesome Club is host-

ing a steel target (22-long-rifleonly) shoot at the Hobbs GunClub Range. Range opens at 7:30a.m., 1/2 scale targets matchstarts at 9 a.m. and the 3/8 scaletargets match starts at 1 p.m.Safety meeting and discussion ofrange rules will be held prior to

each match. All matches areopen to the public and the entryfee is $5 for each match. Allshooters from novice to expertare welcome (youths and juniorsmust be accompanied by anadult). All entrants at eachmatch are entered in a drawingfor a door prize. For more infor-mation contact, Lloyd May at575-390-9257.

Gallery exhibitThe Center for the Art is proud to

bring you the Odessa ArtsAssociation for their NovemberGallery Exhibit. Opening recep-tion for OAA will be Saturday,Nov. 3, from 4-6 p.m. at theCenter for the Arts, 122 W.Broadway. The exhibit will berunning the entire month ofNovember. They will be present-ing an exhibit displaying arkwork with "travel and vacation"for the theme.

Candy donationsFrom 10 a.m.-2 p.m. candidate for

county commission Tom Piercewill be at Taco Villa collectingexcess candy for OperationGratitude, which will send candyto troops serving overseas.Donators will receive a free beanburrito.

The Workhorse206 W. Broadway 397-4605

HARDEN SOFA 4 STYLES TO CHOOSE FROM

$29999

Holiday Open Houseat ALBERTHIA’S FLOWERS, INC.

207 S. Cecil St. ~ 575-393-8845

NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR 33,, 2200112299::0000 AAMM TTOO 44::0000 PPMM

Alberthia Campbell invites you to come

in and see our Christmas Specials!

* Wreath Design * Table Arrangements - Fresh & Silk

* Green & Blooming Plants* Gift Baskets & Plush Animals

REGISTER FOR OUR DOOR PRIZES!REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED

at ALBERTHIA’S FLOWERS, INC.207 S. Cecil St. ~ 575-393-8845

NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR 33,, 2200112299::0000 AAMM TTOO 44::0000 PPMM

Alberthia Campbell invites you to come

in and see our Christmas Specials!

* Wreath Designs * Table Arrangements - Fresh & Silk

* Green & Blooming Plants* Gift Baskets & Plush Animals

REGISTER FOR OUR DOOR PRIZES!REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED

ALL SHOWS BEFORE 6 PM ($6.50) EXCEPT 3D

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LOCAL & REGION 3HOBBS NEWS-SUN • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Mia Romero and MarcusRodriguez put their bestforward, right, during a

recent dance program.Students in Booker T.

Washington's AfterSchoolKindergarten program

spent the month ofOctober taking weekly les-sons from Maciolek School

of Dance, then got achance to demonstrateskills for their parents.

Other students involved inthe program, top, includedBriana Burich, Mia Romeroand Eli Flores in back andMaleria Mata and Azalea

Mascarenas in front.HOBBS SCHOOLS PHOTOS

Mark the date

Texas county returning allegedtraffic stop shakedown cash

BTW dancers