Vehicle forfeiture efforts could be lucrative, but difficult in Twin Peaks ... - Waco Tribune-Herald
It’s possible some of the vehicles could be declared illegal contraband associated with a crime, and ownership transferred to the county through a process known as civil forfeiture. The collective value of the vehicles likely exceeds $1 million, assuming typical vehicle values. As of Friday afternoon, McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna had not filed any civil forfeiture notices with the McLennan County district clerk. Waco police also have publicly stated that owners can request their vehicles back by calling the police department at 750-5700. Sgt. But Reyna is known for aggressive pursuit of civil forfeiture, and defense attorneys are watching his moves in this case where so much property is at stake and so many owners are in jail. Some 170 people remain in the McLennan County Jail , each on $1 million bond, on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity in the Twin Peaks shooting. “You’re going to have to connect the person to a crime,” said Melanie Walker, a former county prosecutor who is now representing Seth A. Smith of Waco in the Twin Peaks case. You’re going to have to prove that it was an instrumentality of a crime or involved in a crime, not just that it’s how they got there. Source: www.wacotrib.com
