Trial: Constable Allegedly Held Campaign Raffle

DALLAS - Testimony began Tuesday in the trial of Dallas County Constable Derick Evans, who is accused of engaging in organized crime.

Special Prosecutor Marquette Wolf said Evans held a raffle to raise money for his re-election campaign.

That’s a problem because elected officials are not allowed to do so. Only churches, volunteer fire departments and non-profit organizations can hold raffles in Texas.

Wolf is also trying to show that the constable forced his deputies to sell 50 raffle tickets for $5 each or donate $250 to his campaign.

“They were threatened to become part of this scheme. They feared Evans; he was a bully,” Wolf said.

Deputy Constable Hector Wilson testified he felt like his extra jobs would not be approved, he’d be given bad shifts or even not sworn in again if he didn’t financially support Evans’ re-election campaign.

But Defense Attorney Michael Todd said those testifying against Evans are disgruntled deputies who dislike him because he disciplined them for not doing their jobs properly.

“What you will find out is this investigation that led to his indictment was no investigation at all. It was a political witch hunt,” Todd said.

The trial also hit a few snags Tuesday. One juror didn’t show up until 9:30 a.m. and another called in saying he had a family emergency and wasn’t going to attend the trial. He was replaced with an alternate.

And former County Judge Jim Foster was subpoenaed to testify by the defense but his attorney said he cannot come to court because he just had part of a lung removed. He is expected to give his testimony via Skype later this week.