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Jun 17, 2008 10:00 pm US/Central
Career Criminal Crosses Paths With Dallas DA, Wife
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
How did the top prosecutor for Dallas County and his wife end up crossing paths with a career criminal indicted for theft and forgery? CBS 11 Investigator Bennett Cunningham discovered how it happened and why the Texas Attorney General is now investigating the case.
Robert Wayne Mitchell, 51, is in jail. According to state records, he's been in and out of prison for theft. But this time, the charges are much more sophisticated.
Back in 2005, Dallas County records show a woman named Ella Mae Walker deeded her Dallas home on Bonnie View Road to Mr. Mitchell. The CBS 11 Investigators showed Mitchell the warranty deed with his name and her signature on it. When we asked Mitchell how he had come to own that house, he replied, "I don't want to particularly answer."
Mitchell might not want to answer because, unless you can bring back the dead, there is a problem with the deal. The day Mrs. Walker signed the warranty deed she'd been dead for more than six months. Mitchell says he met a lady who he thought was Walker and he thought it was legitimate land deal.
Even though Ella Mae Walker was dead, not only did Mitchell supposedly see her, but the dead woman's signature was authenticated by a licensed notary, Markeya Mitchell. [No relation.] Markeya Mitchell says the notary is a forgery and it's not her signature on the documents.
Records show Markeya Mitchell notarized several other deeds for Robert Mitchell. In April, Mr. Mitchell was indicted on several counts of theft and forgery for those other land deals. Mitchell says he doesn't know the notary and as for the money that changed hands, he says "what money?" Robert Mitchell also refused to say if he was representing anyone in these deals.
Normally it would seem the details were wrapped up; not quite. The story then takes an unexpected twist. Land records show Mr. Mitchell sold Ella Mae Walker's property to the Good Street Missionary Baptist Church, just adjacent to her house.
According to a letter from the Dallas District Attorney's Office, District Attorney Craig Watkins not only owns the title company that reviewed the title on the Walker deal, but that the DA did some legal work for the title company while he was serving as the county's top prosecutor.
Texas statute prohibits the practice of law by a state prosecutor. Also, the notary on this part of the deal was Tanya Watkins, the DA's wife. Now both are potential witnesses in any case that may be brought against Mr. Mitchell.
When questioned, District Attorney Watkins said he never saw the letter his staff sent to the Texas Attorney General's office referring the Walker case for prosecution because of a potential conflict of interest. Watkins also denied doing any legal work for the title company.
In Texas deeds are not scrutinized when filed and Watkins wife, Tanya, says title companies don't do background checks on individuals.
Read the correspondance concerning a possible Dallas County District Attorney's Office conflict of interest in the Robert Wayne Mitchell case.
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