subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Fri, May 09 2008 

Published: March 21, 2008 11:16 am    print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

State preparing case against Ronald Owens

By David May

Lone Star News Group

The longer Ronald Keith Owens remains in jail, the sooner he could face trial on charges he defrauded people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to the man who is leading the state’s prosecution.

Dale Barron of the Dallas division of the Texas State Securities Board said Owens’ medical conditions, which include high blood pressure and dialysis three times a week, will eventually put a strain on the resources of Palo Pinto County if it continues to house him for an extended period.

Owens, arrested March 6 in Fort Worth and returned Monday to Palo Pinto County, remained in jail Friday afternoon under a $500,000 bond imposed by State District Judge Jerry Ray on a first-degree felony charge of theft greater than $200,000.

Owens appeared before Ray twice last week, and Barron said a pretrial hearing in the case is scheduled for March 31 in which the state and Owens’ attorney, Cora Moore, will work with the judge through the preliminary processes of discovery and the expected filing of motions.

Barron said he is ready to provide Moore all the information she needs. “I have an open book,” said Barron.

Authorities say Owens, a 72-year-old Mineral Wells resident who served one term as city councilman in 1975-77, executed over the course of several years a so-called Ponzi scheme in which he convinced people to invest sums of money in currency buying and trading programs, promising his investors big returns – as much as 40 percent according to some interviewed by the Index.

The indictment against Owens details $730,000 in investments made by 23 different individuals and organizations on 51 separate occasions. However, authorities and some of Owens’ investors say there are likely hundreds of victims scattered across the United States and that the total dollar amount could total $3 million.

For more on this and other stories, see Friday's Democrat - Weatherford delivered to your door. To subscribe, Call (817) 594-7447.

print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.




Place a Classified Ad


monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

Medication Aide
Health Care Professionals
Parker County Detention Facility
Weatherford, TX

A leading provider of ad
...>MORE

PRODUCTION WORKERS
WE’RE GEARING UP!
General Production Workers
Needed
Starting wages $7.35 - $11.00/ hr.
$1 & $2 Diffe
...>MORE

Registered Nurse, Case Manager
Full Time Positions
Available

Registered Nurse,
Case Manager
Granbury / Weatherford
...>MORE

Director of Rehabilitation Services
Director of Rehabilitation Services

Excellent Opportunity for a Director of Rehab Services - Hospital Setting
...>MORE

Parts Counter Help

Parts Counter Help

Previous parts counter experience for tractor or automotive helpful. Must have good
...>MORE

RN or LVN
NOW HIRING

• RN or LVN
Home Health/PRN Per Visit

• Physical Therapist
Home Health/PRN Pe
...>MORE

Advertising Sales Manager
Commission Sales Reps
For Advertising Sales.
High Commission Rate
Bonuses, Full-or Part-Time
Experi
...>MORE

SAUTE CHEF
Nancy’s Italian Grill
Now Hiring FT/PT
Saute Chef
Secure Job In A Family Environment.
Must Have Expe
...>MORE

Trainee Position
Stripes And More, MW
Trainee Position to Install Truck Accessories and Spray in Bed Liners.

Some experie
...>MORE

Oilfield CDL Drivers
Now Hiring

OILFIELD
CDL DRIVERS

Class A CDL with
Tanker Endorsement.
Rapidly Growi
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Homes

OPEN HOUSE
Open House
407 Eureka St., W’ford.
10am - 2pm, Fri., Sat. & Sun.
$129,900, 2 for 1, 2/1/2, Like New, Hard
...>MORE

CYPRESS VIEW VILLAS
Spring Into Your New Home

Cypress View Villas

2, 3 & 4 Bedroom
1 Month Free
New Lower p
...>MORE

RIVERFRONT PROPERTY
River Front - 3 Acres
Horseshoe Bend
Water & Electric Available
Ideal for Recreational $115k - Owner Fina
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Misc.

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

rc