Prosecutor Bill Torrey provided the following statement in response to the lawsuit against a number of county employees fi led Monday:
“Our records indicate that (Plaintiff John L.) Robertson was on 5 years felony probation for assault family violence with a previous similar conviction on June 3, 2013. A third degree felony.
“A motion to revoke his probation was fi led on March 3, 2017. He allegedly had failed to appear and failed to make various probationary payments required of him. He was arrested on Saturday, June 10.
“We requested a status hearing from the Court at the next available docket on June 16. On that date the Court set Mr. Robertson for a status for July 10th.
“At that time the Court scheduled him for a contested hearing to be held on Aug. 7, as well as appointing him an attorney at Robertson’s request. On Aug. 7, with the assistance of his lawyer, Robertson agreed to pay $540 restitution and that his probation was to be extended for two years.
I categorically deny any allegations that I conspired with anyone to extend Robertson’s stay in jail, as alleged, to retaliate for his complaints against county offi cials and/or threat to sue.
“It is interesting to note that Robertson’s lawyer in paragraph 23 of his complaint states that in addition to his arrest for violation of his probation he was also arrested ‘..for failure to pay child support.’ The Attorney General’s Offi ce handles child support matters, I do not.
“Upon his inquiry my offi ce requested that (attorney) Mr. Clevenger fi le a letter of representation before I would speak with him in regard to Robertson’s criminal matter. A standard practice.
“We do not discus cases with just anyone. He did not. I did not recuse myself as there was no reason to do so. I was elected to prosecute cases in Milam County, not hand them off for no reason.”
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