[Watchdogs] Special grand jury takes up utility inquiry

[Andra Jacoby]

  Special grand jury takes up utility inquiry


    Jurors quizzed about witness ties as testimony begins before
    specially picked panel.

By Claudia Grisales <mailto:cgrisales at statesman.com>
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, February 06, 2009

JOHNSON CITY — A half-dozen lawyers cooled their heels outside a 
courtroom at the Blanco County Courthouse on Thursday as a new grand 
jury investigating the Pedernales Electric Cooperative heard testimony 
all day long.

The lawyers had come with their clients, who were the first witnesses to 
appear before the grand jury that was impaneled Wednesday to examine 
potential criminal violations by former officials at the Johnson 
City-based co-op, the largest member-owned electric utility in the country.

Those testifying included Will Dahmann, former deputy general manager of 
the co-op; Mike Vollmer, its chief financial officer; and Rory 
Boatright, who is listed as a director at Cattleman's Bank and has an 
office at the Moursund law firm in Round Mountain — both entities that 
have had close ties to Pedernales. They testified alone, but Boatright 
left the grand jury room several times to consult with his lawyers.


http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/02/06/0206pec.html