Lawyer charges DA and officer lied in Twin Peaks testimony

A Dallas lawyer who represents a Hewitt man charged in the Twin Peaks case is asking a Dallas district court to order court of inquiry on the merits of an accusation of perjury, which he believes was committed by police and prosecutors.

F. Clinton Broden presented the request to 203rd District Judge Teresa Hawthorne on Oct. 6, and she ruled in his favor, then asked her administrative judge to order the trial.

“The Honorable Judge Teresa Hawthorne of the 203rd District Court has found probable cause to request a Court of Inquiry be convened for the purpose of determining whether the elected McLennan County District Attorney Abelino Reyna or Waco Police Detective Manuel Chavez committed perjury or aggravated perjury at a hearing held in the Twin Peaks’ cases,” a statement Broden issued Monday says.

“The timing and location, among other things, of Mr. Broden’s latest filing certainly speaks volumes as to the frivolous and ridiculous nature of its contents," Reyna said in a statement Monday.

"We are ready for trial on the current case Mr. Broden is attempting to disrupt and his client’s case as well. We look forward to trial.”

Broden’s client, Matthew Clendennen, of Hewitt, is charged in the shooting, the result of which led to nine deaths and more than 20 injuries on May 17, 2015.

Broden contends, based upon transcripts of interviews done with Reyna and Chavez on the day of the Twin Peaks massacre, the two offered conflicting testimony about how arrest affidavits were handled.

“At a hearing that took place on August 8, 2016, Mr. Reyna testified to extensive discussions he allegedly had with Mr. Chavez before Mr. Chavez signed the ‘fill-in-the-name’ Twin Peaks’ arrest warrant affidavits for 177 motorcyclists following the tragedy at Twin Peaks. On the other hand, Mr. Chavez testified, ‘I never spoke to Mr. Reyna that night,’” the request by Broden says.

Hawthorne’s ruling means that the presiding judge of the First Administrative Judicial District will appoint a different judge to conduct the Court of Inquiry.

That district judge will appoint a special prosecutor.