Published Monday, February 18, 2008 2:57 AM

Letters for February 18

Cares for people

I began working in the county attorneys' office in 1986 as the token senior citizen. As a retired teacher (and not knowing much else) I felt ill at ease and a little apprehensive. Rod Anderson soon came to my rescue and made me feel more comfortable.

Rod's job is enormous, but he never seems consumed by it. The number of cases he has to review is overwhelming. (I know, because I checked in the majority of them). He is, however, so conscientious, the procedure always seems to run smoothly. He treats each case as if it is the only one -- often meaning "home" work.

On a personal note, when I lost my daughter about four and a half years ago, Rob was there for me in so many ways. He cares for people, as shown by his involvement with the young people in the community and his many commitments outside the office.

Rod is so qualified for the position of county attorney due to his years of service in that office and his knowledge of the law pertaining to all misdemeanors. He has earned this position and I highly recommend him.

ANN WARNER

College Station

Two options

I have had the opportunity to work with the Brazos County Attorney's office and I can honestly tell you that the citizens of this county are extremely blessed to have these men and women working for them.

I have found the people currently working in this office to be hard workers who are always prepared to enforce the laws enacted by our legislators. They take this job very seriously,

I must address allegations that are being made that they are unethical, unprepared and have a "practice" of reducing driving while intoxicated cases. Yes, there are DWI cases that have been reduced to another charge by the County Attorney's Office, as there are in every county in which I have ever practiced. I can tell you that this is not something that is done willingly or across the board.

If one of the assistant county attorneys agrees to reduce a DWI case, it is only because that case has some factual or technical problem associated with it that would make it very difficult for a prosecutor to achieve a unanimous guilty verdict from a jury of Brazos County citizens.

When faced with this situation, the prosecutor handling the case has two options. He or she can chose to waive the DWI and place the defendant on probation for a different charge or the prosecutor can go to trial and run the risk of a jury finding the defendant not guilty.

Placing the defendant on probation for a different charge accomplishes the prosecutor's goal of monitoring the defendant's action over a period of up to two years and requiring the defendant to change his or her behavior or go to placed jail.

Obviously, this benefits the future safety of the community more than taking a marginal DWI case to a jury trial and risking the defendant being acquitted.

CRAIG M. GREAVES

Bryan

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