Texas death row inmate, 2 relatives indicted on charges of sneaking cell phones into prison
By APSaturday, May 2, 2009
Texas death row inmate indicted in cell phone case
AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas death row inmate and two relatives have been indicted for allegedly smuggling cell phones into a prison which led to a statewide lockdown.
Special Prosecutions Chief Gina DeBottis tells the Austin American-Statesman that 30-year-old Richard Lee Tabler, his mother Lorraine Tabler and his 36-year-old sister Kristina Martinez were indicted Friday on charges of possessing contraband in a state prison.
A second inmate, 43-year-old Michael Roy Toney, was indicted on similar charges.
A Polk County grand jury also indicted Tabler on a felony retaliation charge for threatening to kill state Sen. John Whitmire of Houston. Officials say Tabler sent a letter to Whitmire.
Tabler was convicted of shooting a strip club manager and another man in 2004.
Tags: Austin, Correctional Systems, Indictments, North America, Texas, United States, Us-death-row-cell-phone
