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Former arts director P. David Romei's lawyer urged jurors during opening arguments in Romei's felony theft trial to focus on his contributions to the Brazos Valley, not the crimes for which he is accused.
"The evidence will show that Dr. Romei was all about work, integrity and accountability," said Romei's lawyer, Richard "Racehorse" Haynes. "He is the epitome of patriotism and he loves and lives by the word of God."
Romei is accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the Arts Council of Brazos Valley during his time as executive director of the organization. Prosecutors said he used the Arts Council's credit card to pay for personal vacations and prescriptions. He also signed off on reimbursements to himself for work he did not complete, prosecutors said.
Haynes questioned three witnesses involved with the Arts Council -- including two current board members. The interactions became tense at times and the court took a break for lunch with District Judge Steve Smith agreeing with the prosecution's objection that Haynes was badgering a witness.
Haynes and current Arts Council president Becky Russell both raised their voices to near-shouting levels as Haynes asked about Romei's final days at the Arts Council. She told him that Romei told the board of directors that he left because he received a high-paying job at a Houston bank, but Haynes repeatedly interrupted her by saying that she should limit her answers to "yes or no."
Former Arts Council president Carol Wagner testified that she received in the mail from an anonymous source embarrassing pictures of current Arts Council director Padraic Fisher. She said she was upset by the pictures and took them to the College Station Police Department. She later gave copies of the pictures to the Brazos County District Attorney's Office and the Arts Council's lawyer.
Romei has since admitted that he sent the pictures. Romei's lawyers have argued in past legal filings that the prosecution of Romei is the result of retaliatory "witch hunt" to punish Romei for sending the pictures.
District Attorney Bill Turner called more than a dozen witnesses last week. He rested his case Monday morning without calling any additional witnesses. While presenting his case, Turner revealed documents that he said showed Romei obtained reimbursement for $1,510 in prescription drugs purchased with Arts Council credit cards, $7,400 for consulting work that he never performed. He also used Arts Council money to donate $1,750 to political campaigns.
In addition, Turner showed Arts Council credit card statements that said Romei used public money to pay for a vacation to Europe and trips to Alabama and Florida for family members' funerals. Turner said Romei never reimbursed the Arts Council for the money.
Haynes said in his opening statement that he will show jurors that the trips were business-related. He also suggested that he paid the Arts Council back for his personal purchases, but they did not appear on audits because "the Brazos Valley Arts Council had a unique system of accounting."
Haynes further stated that Romei's work was greatly appreciated by most people involved in the Arts Council and displayed a $900 crystal bowl that was presented to him from the board of directors as he left the organization.
When you compare the amount of work Romei has done for the community to his personal expenses, the personal expenses are "close to zero," Haynes said. "It is not a crime."
For more on the trial, read Tuesday's Eagle.
