Collin County DA John Roach earns State Prosecutor of the Year award

Collin County Criminal District Attorney John Roach recently earned the the Lone Star Prosecutor of the Year for his courage and discretion in prosecuting or choosing not to prosecute several cases in 2008.

The award is given on behalf of the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. The TDCAA recognized Roach for steadfastly refusing to take on cases contaminated by a network television news investigation called, "To Catch a Predator", said TDCAA President Barry Macha.

The cases linked to the TV show were mired in controversy because the investigations were conducted under the supervision of TV producers and not law enforcement, and would not have held up in court, Wyatt said. "John Roach showed the true backbone of a Texas prosecutor in standing up to a national TV network and this show by refusing to prosecute cases tainted by an entertainment-driven investigation," Macha said.

Roach was also cited for agreeing to prosecute another elected prosecutor, former Rockwall County District Attorney Ray Sumrow, for abuse of office, which resulted in Sumrow's 15-year prison term, and for Roach dismissing charges against the man convicted of murdering young Ashlee Estelle after doubt was cast on the evidence used to convict him.

The public may not have liked that decision, but Roach followed the law in this case, Macha said. That is his job as the elected prosecutor, to be sure that justice is done, Macha said. It is this type of work that exemplifies the best in Texas prosecution, Macha said. Roach said that recognition by his fellow Texas prosecutors as Lone Star Prosecutor of the Year is a great honor, “and doubly so because of our shared dedication to truth, justice, and the rule of law.”

Each year the TDCAA's Board of Directors Texas names a Lone Star Prosecutor who demonstrates professionalism and dedication to the highest standards of prosecution. The award is traditionally presented at the prosecutors’ annual conference every September, but the Sept. 2008 conference in Galveston was rescheduled for January because of Hurricane Ike’s landfall.

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