POSTED: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - 7:05pm
UPDATED: Thursday, April 22, 2010 - 3:29am
The appeals process in the Mineola swingers case is underway, and a surprise was introduced that may send shockwaves through Smith County.
Oral arguments began yesterday in the cases of two defendants in the so-called Mineola Swingers Club.
And a legal hand grenade has been tossed in the middle of things from a neighboring county…and a neighboring district attorney…
The appeals of Patrick Kelly and Jamie Pittman, who both were sentenced to life in prison for their part in the alleged child sex ring, began
Tuesday in a teleconference with the Houston based 14th Court of Appeals.
But a bombshell from Wood County has turned everything upside down.
Wood County District Attorney James Wheeler filed an amicus brief alleging that the Smith County District Attorney’s office lied and suppressed and or withheld evidence in the case.
A grand jury heard the case in Wood County and no indictments were handed down because they saw no evidence of a crime.
Wheeler says the owners of the club were interviewed by District Attorney Matt Bingham’s office, and testified that no children were ever in the club.
Matt Bingham says it isn’t true.
The California accusations against the foster parents of the children involved, accusations of child abuse, were lied about, according to the brief.
Davidson was stunned… DA Matt Bingham is angry…
"Frankly the district Attorney's office who did anything they could, lied, hid evidence to get a conviction...These people need to face punishment," said Davidson
Bingham retorted, "They can say Matt Bingham's a bald-headed ass, but when they challenge my integrity, that makes me mad."
It might take as long as two months for the appeals court to render a decision.