WR-81,532-01 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS Transmitted 1/2/2015 7:19:51 AM Accepted 1/2/2015 4:17:11 PM ABEL ACOSTA THE LAW OFFICE OF CHAD BARUCH CLERK An Appellate Practice 3201 Main Street Rowlett, Texas 75088 Telephone: (972) 412-7192 Facsimile: (972) 412-4028 BaruchEsq@aol.com
January 2, 2014 January 2, 2015 By E-Filing Abel Acosta, Clerk The Court of Criminal Appeals Post Office Box 12308 Austin, Texas 78711
RE: In re Bernhardt Tiede II No. WR-81,532-01
Dear Mr. Acosta:
Please circulate this letter to the justices. District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson recently admitted in writing to possessing evidence rebutting the very findings he agreed to in the trial court.
On December 23, 2014, counsel for Davidson sent the attached letter contesting an Open Records Act request for evidence associated with Mr. Tiede’s substantial theft and use of Marjorie Nugent’s money. According to District Attorney Davidson:
[Tiede’s] conduct may be relevant to explain why Tiede murdered her and hid her body in a freezer. The concealment of the body and deception in the withdrawals appears contrary to the “sudden passion/emotion” as stated on page 11 paragraph 64 of the Findings of Fact of the Trial Court. The deceptive conduct and deliberate acts of Tiede for a period of nine (90 months after the murder is relevant to . . . rebut or counter the “new evidence” which arose in the Writ Hearing.
001 Additionally the information withheld contains evidence . . . relevant to rebut the alleged “verbal abuse” Tiede was subject to by Marjorie Nugent which is cited in the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Recommendations and Order on Page 5 paragraph #26 . . . and the reason Tiede could not end their relationship cited on page 8 paragraph #44.
As the Court will recall, Davidson agreed to the very findings cited in this letter, testified that he would have sought a sentence based on the “sudden passion” provision of the Texas Penal Code, and—most disturbing of all—failed to mention any of this “rebuttal” evidence to the trial judge.
Even Davidson now admits possessing substantial evidence to support the Tiede’s sentence notwithstanding the “new evidence.” Davidson admits this evidence is contrary to factual findings he agreed to during the writ hearing.
The Family of Marjorie Nugent reiterates its suggestion, as an amicus curiae party, that this Court reconsider its decision in this case.
/s/Charles “Chad” Baruch
copies: Jodi Cole Danny Buck Davidson The Honorable Diane DeVasto Clerk, 123rd Judicial District Court
002 r ... ,_, ~!(:'/r '/:t::s:r/
UNDERWOOD LAW OFFlCE 324 West ~obi Robert UDduw!:lod P.O. 5o• lll8 T~ Bourl ofl..cgBlSJ?~ C>rthog<, T= 75633 Civil Triol aw & Tolephooc (903) 693-2303 P~~TciolV.w Fu: (903) 693-:2356 R. Collin Undttwood
Via Cet1ified Mail No. 7012 0470 0001 5041 4114
December 23,2014
THE HONORABLE GREG ABBOTT TEXAS ATI'ORNEY GENERAL ATTN:OPENRECORDSDnn&ON POBOXU548 AUSTIN TX 78711-2548
Re: Request for Attorney General Decision and Submission I Two (2) December 12, 2014 Shanna Nugent requests to Panola County Criminal District Attorney
Dear Attorney General Abbott:
This letter selVes as submission to the Attorney General of Texas pursuant to Section 552.301 (e) of the Public InfOI!Illrtion Act (the "Act'~. The undersigned Attorney represents the Panola County Criminal District Attorney and Panola County Criminal District Attorney's Office in this matter. This letter seiVes as request for a decision by the Attorney General on the question that exceptions apply to withhold information which was requested by Shanna Nugent in the two (2) requests dated December 12, 2014.
Copies of the two (2) December 12, 2014 Shanna Nugent requests to Criminal District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson ofPanola County are attached.
A signed statement by Criminal District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson is attached showing the Panola County Criminal District Attorney's Office received the "Request for Evidence and Waiver of Fees" and ·~uest for Public Documents and Waiver ofFees" :from Shanna Nugent on December 16, 2014.
Background:
In November 1996 Bernie Tiede munlered Mmjorie Nugent by shooting her with a gun and placed her body in a freezer. Her body was discovered in August of 1997. Tiede was convicted of munler and sentenced to life.
Tiede was also indicted for theft in a mclti-count indictment for appropriating money from the Nugents after he nturdered her. The theft case has !lOt been tried but is pending. The theft indictment and docket sheet is attached. ·
In2014 Tiede filed a writ ofhaheas CO!pUS in the murder case in 1he Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The Trial Court's Order in 1he writ reco=ended a new punishment phase of the murder
003 Dec. 23 2014 I 2:06PM No. 0075 P. 12 • Page2 December 23, 2014
conviction. The Findings ofFact, Conclusions of Law, Recommendation and Order is attached. In November of20 14 the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ordered a new sentencing trial. The Mandate is attached.
Reasollll for exceptions to apply:
Government Code section 552.1 08(a)(1) protecfll information that pertains to specific pending criminal investigation or prosecution. The indictment number 1997 - C - 104 styled the State of Texas versus Bernhardt Tiede If, theft over $200,000 is pending in the 123rd Judicial Court. It is a ten (10) count indictment for unlawfully appropriating money from Dr. Rod Nugent or the heirs of Mrs. R.M Nugent, which is Marjorie Nugent, after Tiede murdered her. The pending indictment and docket sheet are attached. The Criminal District Attorney lUIS not dismissed the theft indictment.
The term "infonnation" is used to include all items requested.
The requested information contains evidence or information relevant to the specific investigation and prosecution of the pending fulony theft indictment. The relevant information would largely be the bank statements and cancelled checks which may be used to prove the illegal withdrawall! by Tiede from the Nugent accounts through a Power of Attorney after he murdered her. At this time none of the documents have been admitted into evidence. A representative sample of the infonnation is labeled and attached.
Tbe information is also relevant to the specific investigation and prosecution in the new punishment trial in the murder case since Tiede acted in a knowing deceptive course of conduct over several months by withdrawing large sums of money and spending or giving it away. This conduct may be relevant to explain why Tiede murdered her and hid her body in a freezer. The concealment of the body and deception in the withdrawals appears contrary to the "sudden passion/emotion" as stated on page 11 paragraph 64 of the Findings ofFact of the Trial Court. The deceptive conduct and deliberate acts of Tiede for a period of nine (9) months after the murder is relevant to prove the intentional murder and to rebut or counter the ''new evidence" which arose in the Writ Hearing. The information withheld contains clear evidence of this conduct after the murder.
Additionally the information withheld contains evidence of the expenses and expenditures spent by Tiede and Marjorie Nugeot prior to the murder. This evidence is relevant to rebut the alleged "verbal abuse" Tiede was subject to by Marjorie Nugent which is cited in the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Recommendations and Order on page 5 paragraph #26, and the "deteriorated" relatiouship between them cited on page 7 paragraph #4 3, and the reason Tiede could not end their relationship cited on page 8 paragraph #44. Evidence ofthe amount of money ])eing spent can explain some of the ''new evidence" arising from the writ
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WR-81,532-01 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS AUSTIN, TEXAS Transmitted 1/2/2015 7:19:51 AM Accepted 1/2/2015 4:17:11 PM ABEL ACOSTA THE LAW OFFICE OF CHAD BARUCH CLERK An Appellate Practice 3201 Main Street Rowlett, Texas 75088 Telephone: (972) 412-7192 Facsimile: (972) 412-4028 BaruchEsq@aol.com
January 2, 2014 January 2, 2015 By E-Filing Abel Acosta, Clerk The Court of Criminal Appeals Post Office Box 12308 Austin, Texas 78711
RE: In re Bernhardt Tiede II No. WR-81,532-01
Dear Mr. Acosta:
Please circulate this letter to the justices. District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson recently admitted in writing to possessing evidence rebutting the very findings he agreed to in the trial court.
On December 23, 2014, counsel for Davidson sent the attached letter contesting an Open Records Act request for evidence associated with Mr. Tiede’s substantial theft and use of Marjorie Nugent’s money. According to District Attorney Davidson:
[Tiede’s] conduct may be relevant to explain why Tiede murdered her and hid her body in a freezer. The concealment of the body and deception in the withdrawals appears contrary to the “sudden passion/emotion” as stated on page 11 paragraph 64 of the Findings of Fact of the Trial Court. The deceptive conduct and deliberate acts of Tiede for a period of nine (90 months after the murder is relevant to . . . rebut or counter the “new evidence” which arose in the Writ Hearing.
001 Additionally the information withheld contains evidence . . . relevant to rebut the alleged “verbal abuse” Tiede was subject to by Marjorie Nugent which is cited in the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Recommendations and Order on Page 5 paragraph #26 . . . and the reason Tiede could not end their relationship cited on page 8 paragraph #44.
As the Court will recall, Davidson agreed to the very findings cited in this letter, testified that he would have sought a sentence based on the “sudden passion” provision of the Texas Penal Code, and—most disturbing of all—failed to mention any of this “rebuttal” evidence to the trial judge.
Even Davidson now admits possessing substantial evidence to support the Tiede’s sentence notwithstanding the “new evidence.” Davidson admits this evidence is contrary to factual findings he agreed to during the writ hearing.
The Family of Marjorie Nugent reiterates its suggestion, as an amicus curiae party, that this Court reconsider its decision in this case.
/s/Charles “Chad” Baruch
copies: Jodi Cole Danny Buck Davidson The Honorable Diane DeVasto Clerk, 123rd Judicial District Court
002 r ... ,_, ~!(:'/r '/:t::s:r/
UNDERWOOD LAW OFFlCE 324 West ~obi Robert UDduw!:lod P.O. 5o• lll8 T~ Bourl ofl..cgBlSJ?~ C>rthog<, T= 75633 Civil Triol aw & Tolephooc (903) 693-2303 P~~TciolV.w Fu: (903) 693-:2356 R. Collin Undttwood
Via Cet1ified Mail No. 7012 0470 0001 5041 4114
December 23,2014
THE HONORABLE GREG ABBOTT TEXAS ATI'ORNEY GENERAL ATTN:OPENRECORDSDnn&ON POBOXU548 AUSTIN TX 78711-2548
Re: Request for Attorney General Decision and Submission I Two (2) December 12, 2014 Shanna Nugent requests to Panola County Criminal District Attorney
Dear Attorney General Abbott:
This letter selVes as submission to the Attorney General of Texas pursuant to Section 552.301 (e) of the Public InfOI!Illrtion Act (the "Act'~. The undersigned Attorney represents the Panola County Criminal District Attorney and Panola County Criminal District Attorney's Office in this matter. This letter seiVes as request for a decision by the Attorney General on the question that exceptions apply to withhold information which was requested by Shanna Nugent in the two (2) requests dated December 12, 2014.
Copies of the two (2) December 12, 2014 Shanna Nugent requests to Criminal District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson ofPanola County are attached.
A signed statement by Criminal District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson is attached showing the Panola County Criminal District Attorney's Office received the "Request for Evidence and Waiver of Fees" and ·~uest for Public Documents and Waiver ofFees" :from Shanna Nugent on December 16, 2014.
Background:
In November 1996 Bernie Tiede munlered Mmjorie Nugent by shooting her with a gun and placed her body in a freezer. Her body was discovered in August of 1997. Tiede was convicted of munler and sentenced to life.
Tiede was also indicted for theft in a mclti-count indictment for appropriating money from the Nugents after he nturdered her. The theft case has !lOt been tried but is pending. The theft indictment and docket sheet is attached. ·
In2014 Tiede filed a writ ofhaheas CO!pUS in the murder case in 1he Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The Trial Court's Order in 1he writ reco=ended a new punishment phase of the murder
003 Dec. 23 2014 I 2:06PM No. 0075 P. 12 • Page2 December 23, 2014
conviction. The Findings ofFact, Conclusions of Law, Recommendation and Order is attached. In November of20 14 the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ordered a new sentencing trial. The Mandate is attached.
Reasollll for exceptions to apply:
Government Code section 552.1 08(a)(1) protecfll information that pertains to specific pending criminal investigation or prosecution. The indictment number 1997 - C - 104 styled the State of Texas versus Bernhardt Tiede If, theft over $200,000 is pending in the 123rd Judicial Court. It is a ten (10) count indictment for unlawfully appropriating money from Dr. Rod Nugent or the heirs of Mrs. R.M Nugent, which is Marjorie Nugent, after Tiede murdered her. The pending indictment and docket sheet are attached. The Criminal District Attorney lUIS not dismissed the theft indictment.
The term "infonnation" is used to include all items requested.
The requested information contains evidence or information relevant to the specific investigation and prosecution of the pending fulony theft indictment. The relevant information would largely be the bank statements and cancelled checks which may be used to prove the illegal withdrawall! by Tiede from the Nugent accounts through a Power of Attorney after he murdered her. At this time none of the documents have been admitted into evidence. A representative sample of the infonnation is labeled and attached.
Tbe information is also relevant to the specific investigation and prosecution in the new punishment trial in the murder case since Tiede acted in a knowing deceptive course of conduct over several months by withdrawing large sums of money and spending or giving it away. This conduct may be relevant to explain why Tiede murdered her and hid her body in a freezer. The concealment of the body and deception in the withdrawals appears contrary to the "sudden passion/emotion" as stated on page 11 paragraph 64 of the Findings ofFact of the Trial Court. The deceptive conduct and deliberate acts of Tiede for a period of nine (9) months after the murder is relevant to prove the intentional murder and to rebut or counter the ''new evidence" which arose in the Writ Hearing. The information withheld contains clear evidence of this conduct after the murder.
Additionally the information withheld contains evidence of the expenses and expenditures spent by Tiede and Marjorie Nugeot prior to the murder. This evidence is relevant to rebut the alleged "verbal abuse" Tiede was subject to by Marjorie Nugent which is cited in the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Recommendations and Order on page 5 paragraph #26, and the "deteriorated" relatiouship between them cited on page 7 paragraph #4 3, and the reason Tiede could not end their relationship cited on page 8 paragraph #44. Evidence ofthe amount of money ])eing spent can explain some of the ''new evidence" arising from the writ
In Requestor's "Request for Public Documents" includes correspondence from the deceased's family (#8), the opposing attorneys in the habeas corpus (#9), the mental experts in the murder trial and habeas corpus (#12). These items contain information which me involved in two active felony prosecutions and should not be disclosed with pending prosecution. The "decision making process" information requested in #13 is clearly exempt from disclosure.
004 Dtc. 23.2014 '2:06?~ No. 0075 P. 13 • Page3 December 23, 2014
The Criminal District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson of the 123'• Judicial Criminal District objects to any disclosure of the requested items. Clearly the theft case is pending. The murder case is pending since the Cowt of Criminal Appeals ordered a new murder punishment stage. All of the infurmation items requested by the Requestor Nugent are potential exhibits to prove the motive, deception, fraud, and theft committed by Tiede in the murder and theft case.
The copy of this letter sent to the requestDr Shanna Nugent is being redacted pursuant to Government Code section 552.30 1(e-1) so to not reveal the substance of the information.
Therefore, based upon the foregoing exceptions the requested information should not be disclosed.
The same issues, exclusions, arguments are similar, if not identical, to the issues in the attached Texas Attorney General Letter Ruling OR.2014-22528. The following items are identical in both requests: #4laptop computer, #5 videos, #6 answering machine tape, #!!notes and cards.
If you should need additional information please contact me.
Thank you. 1
Cc: Shanna Nugent (Redacted copy) Attorney at Law l4285:MidwayRoadSuite 130 Addison TX 75001 Via Fax
Criminal District Attorney Danny Buck Davidson
Attachments: 1. Two (2) Sbanna Nugent Requests 2. Signed Statement by Criminal District Attorney regarding date 3. Two(2)Responses 4. Findings ofFact, Conclusions of Law, Recommondation and Order and Mandate 5. Two (2) Indictments 6. Theft Dookct sheet 7. DocumeJ:tt>; labeled sample ofNugentrecords Gov. Code 5S2.108(aXI)