Mayor and Police Officer both Indicted

Victoria, Texas Mayor Will Armstrong has been indicted in a widening probe accusing top city officials, including the police chief, of tampering with a criminal case against a former sheriff facing child sex charges.

Armstrong and Victoria police Lt. Ralph Buentello were indicted Friday on conspiracy and other charges tied to the investigation last year of former Victoria County Sheriff Michael Ratcliff, who was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy.

Earlier this week, Victoria Police Chief Bruce Ure and former city attorney David Smith were indicted on charges alleging they leaked information about the case to a local reporter.

The charges facing the four men have rattled this South Texas town and widened a rift between city leaders and Victoria County prosecutors. City officials say they became involved in the Ratcliff investigation amid concerns over a lack of progress.

"We have not been presented with any evidence indicating their actions failed to comply with the law," City Attorney Miles Risley said in Saturday's editions of the Victoria Advocate.

Risley read the statement to a crowd that included more than 50 police supporters.

Ratcliff was indicted in October on three counts of sexually assaulting a teenage boy. He was accused of offering the boy a swap of sexual favors for a nicer cell in the hospital wing when the boy was an inmate.

Prior to his arrest Friday, Armstrong had strongly defended Ure and Smith and accused District Attorney Stephen Tyler of playing politics.

Tyler has called the May 2007 trial of a Victoria police officer, who was acquitted of sexual harassment, as the start of a rift between him and Ure. Tyler was highly critical of the city for keeping the officer on the force.

Armstrong was indicted on misuse of official information and criminal conspiracy, both felonies. Buentello faces the same charges, plus he was indicted on aggravated perjury, tampering with a witness and official oppression.

Armstrong said he had been advised not to comment. Buentello said he thinks "everything is going to be fine," the newspaper reported.

The mayor, police chief and Buentello will continue working despite their indictments this week.

Tyler said the indictments prove the laws apply to everyone.

"We are all supposed to live and comport ourselves with the law," Tyler said. "All of us. No exceptions."