DWI Trial of Gordon Bean

LIBERTY, October 26, 2009 - The DWI case of Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy Gordon Bean began today with jury selection this morning and the start of testimony this afternoon.

There are only 6 people on the jury in this type of misdemeanor case and this jury consists of 5 women and one man.

Bean was stopped in January in his personal vehicle after a pursuit by Liberty PD from Liberty to Dayton and originally charged with Felony Fleeing and Evading in a Motor Vehicle and Driving While Intoxicated. The Evading charged was dropped and Liberty County Court at Law Judge Don Taylor is hearing the case.

See related article below
LCSO Deputy Arrested on Felony Charges

After Prosecuting Attorney Tommy Chambers gave his opening statement to the jury, attorney for the defense, Abraham Fish of Houston made things pretty ugly quick in his opening remarks when he accused one of the Officers who arrested Bean, Aaron Venegas, of having a previous affair with Bean’s wife and stated that Venegas, “Didn’t like him (meaning Bean).”

In opening remarks by Chambers it was revealed that once Bean was arrested and transported to the Liberty County Jail he refused to submit to a standard Breathalyzer test. Officers obtained a blood warrant obtaining a blood specimen at the hospital and that specimen tested at 0.12 over the legal limit of intoxication.

The first witness called in the case was Amanda Ramsey age 23. Ramsey accompanied Bean from Crosby, where Bean picked her up, and went with him to the Whisky River Country & Western Saloon in Beaumont where Bean and Ramsey caught up with other friends celebrating the birthday of a co-worker.

After lengthy, tedious questioning of Ramsey who seemed to evade answering questions objections were made by Chambers. Ramsey was ruled an adverse witness and Chambers could then lead the witness in questioning to get at the truth over the objections of defense attorney Fish.

Ramsey’s demeanor, her relationship to Bean, being less that forthcoming with answers during questioning and the fact that she was dismissed from the Sheriff’s Department while Ken DeFoor was Chief Deputy appeared to discredit much of her testimony.

The trial resumed after a beak with testimony from City of Liberty Police Officer Frank Longoria taking the stand who told of how he and Officer Venegas observed the vehicle Bean was driving pass the Whataburger in Liberty at the high rate of speed which started the pursuit to Dayton. Videotape from Longoria’s patrol car camera was shown to the jury.

The trial is scheduled to resume tomorrow after lunch.