Not very nice to criminals: District Attorney William Lee Hon urged the jury to never let Tachalla Washington out again.
A Convicted Cocaine Dealer Gets 78 Years, LIVINGSTON, March 22, 2012 - A Polk County Jury handed down 78 years in Texas Department of Corrections to a man that they found to be guilty of dealing cocaine. Tachalla Washington, 31, of Livingston stood silently as the punishment was handed down in Judge Robert Trapp's District Court. Washington was arrested in 2010 by Narcotics Detective, Lieutenant Andy Lowrie after Washington sold cocaine to an undercover agent 3 different times. Prosecutor, Polk County District Attorney, William Lee Hon, urged the jury to give Washington the maximum time behind bars (Washington was facing 5 to 99 years or life in prison). "This is a guy that feels that the rules don't apply to him..." Hon stated to the jury, "He does not care, nor does he have any remorse...", Hon further stated "He has produced no quality contribution during his adult life to our community". Washington's lawyer argued that Washington has made mistakes, but he never had a good support system in place to put him on the right path in life, and that if given a chance he could become a productive citizen. Hon countered that "...a mistake is when you go to work but forget to turn off the lights, but his actions weren't mistakes, they were intentional criminal actions", Hon didn't let up, "He's a menace to the people of Polk County". The jury deliberated for less than 2 hours and returned to hand down 78 years in TDC. Washington will have to serve a minimum of 19 years before he can be eligible for parole.
Among other troubles, Tachalla Washington's criminal history includes convictions for robbery and retalliation including slashing a man's bicycle tires.
Tachalla Washington (left) listens with his attorney as prosecutor William Lee Hon addresses a Polk County Jury.
If you would like to comment on this story, we'd love to hear from you. Be sure to put which story in the blank provided below. Your name and your comment will be posted in the Letters to the Editor.
