Acker under scrutiny

A district judge has appointed Odessa attorney David Zavoda as a special prosecutor into two complaints against Ward County Attorney Kevin Acker.

Acker downplayed one of the complaints Monday night, saying it was a simple miscommunication about rent he owes to the county for running his private practice out of a county office. The bill for six months rent at $200 a month was paid after he received an invoice, Acker said.

The second complaint Acker has heard involves the purchase of a computer, but he hasn’t seen the complaint.

“It’s kind of strange deal,” Acker said. “That part’s under investigation. I don’t really know all the details.”

When Acker filed to run against 143rd District Attorney Randall Reynolds for Reynolds’ job, Reynolds felt he couldn’t investigate the two complaints made against Acker, according to documents filed in the Ward County district court. Reynolds requested removal from the case.

Reynolds echoed his court-issued request in a phone conversation Tuesday.

Acker still believes the investigation is politically motivated, he said. He’s been county attorney for 13 years and never been investigated before, he said.

“Now I’m getting hit with all this,” he said. “I’m like, whatever.”

The complaints from the Ward County Auditor Ellen Friar were made last year. Friar declined to comment Tuesday, citing the continuing investigation.

Texas Rangers are in the preliminary stages of an investigation, Capt. Barry Caver said, but he wouldn’t detail the complaints.

Zavoda doesn’t expect the investigation to be completed until after the March 4 primary when Acker and Reynolds will run against each other in the Democratic primary.