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Winkler sheriff trial to begin Monday
The first trial in the Winkler County Memorial Hospital scandal begins Monday with Sheriff Robert Roberts facing a jury in Midland on charges of misuse of official information and retaliation.
The trial was moved from Winkler County in April by Judge Robert H. Moore to Midland. Moore is a judge brought in from Big Spring to preside over the case.
Jury selection will begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday in the 441st District Court.
Moore ruled to move the trial because of “a combination and influence in favor” of Sheriff Roberts in Winkler County, with a population of just more than 7,000 people.
Jason Leach is the defense attorney in the case, while David Glickler and Shane Attaway will be prosecuting the case for the Office of the Attorney General.
Roberts was indicted in January along with County Attorney Scott Tidwell in connection with a whistle-blowing scenario involving two nurses at the hospital.
The nurses anonymously reported Dr. Rolando Arafiles to the Texas Medical Board in 2009, after which Arafiles asked Roberts, who was a friend, to investigate.
Both nurses were fired from the hospital and prosecuted. One of the nurses was acquitted of a misuse of information charge and charges were dropped for the other nurse.
Arafiles and Tidwell also face charges.
Former Winkler County Hospital Administrator Stan Wiley pleaded guilty in March to a misdemeanor charge of abuse of official capacity. As part of his plea agreement, Wiley has said he will cooperate with prosecutors in the cases against the other three.
