The Roswell Daily Record from Roswell, New Mexico • Page 6

4 Roswell (N.M.) Daily Record Sunday, July 22,1979 Seoton begins new Me immediately By GEOFF DAVIDIAN Record News Editor ALBUQUKHQUK Terry Seaton life started changing the minute his hearing was over. Having spent over six years of a life sentence for a murder he says he didn't commit, a habeas corpus hearing in Bernalillo last May resulted in an order for a new trial for Seaton and an order for his immediate release. Years of work by his attorneys. Bob Kothstein and Steve Farber. and an investigative series in the Koswell Daily Record helped pave the way for his release from prison.

Now living in an Albuquerque club- like apartment complex, Seaton seems to have put the past behind him. Less than a week after his release from the State Correctional Facility at Los Lunas. he received word from the University of New Mexico Law School that he had been accepted for the fall semester. Two weeks ago, District Attorney Michael McCormick told the Daily Record that the chances of a Seaton retrial are slim. Last week Seaton graduated from a six-week course in Tucson.

designed to prepare him for the rigors of law school. And this week? Seaton walked into his new apart- MATTRESSES Renovated and Felted 34 50 New Covers Completely Rebuilt TWIN OR FULL SIZE. FREE PICKUP AND DELIVERY ONE DAY SERVICE NEWOREMEBILT Mattresses And Box Springs WHITE MATTRESS CO. 604 E. 2nd (221000 ment with his daughter, Terri, with whom he had spent the day.

Dressed in jeans and a tank top. he obviously was enjoying his newly regained freedom. He flipped on his stereo one of the gifts he brought back from a trip to San Diego, to visit with his mother and sat down on the striped couch that came with the furnished apartment. "I've been gaining some weight. That's about the only bad part, Seaton things couldnt be better." Seaton sees himself as "somewhat of a modern-day hero, but not like Martin Luther King or "Hurricane" Carter.

But it doesn't go to his head. "I'm just one of the successful ones who showed that the system can work. So in that sense, I'm a hero or at least, my situation is heroic." Seaton said. Now that his life is back to normal, he is getting the chance to get reacquainted with daughter Terri. who.

at age 10. has suffered from her peers' snide remarks about her "notorious father." "Kids teased her before." Seaton said, "and she'd run home from school crying. That's what really made me mad. But now. they say 'Terry Seaton's your and it has a whole different Now, Seaton and Terri see each other often, although he and his wife.

Armanda, are divorced. "Armanda and I are still real close. She's married and has a real good husband. We're family, so we don't disassociate with each other just because one of the limbs has been cut off." he said. "Terri and I (lew out to San Diego to visit my mother, and we're getting along fine." Shortly after his release from the Los Lunas facility.

Seaton attended a Democratic fund-raising event. Attending were Gov. Bruce King, Attorney General Jeff Eingaman and U.S. Sen. George McGovern.

The attorney general's office had just failed in its attempt to keep Seaton from winning a new trial, and King, who appointed the man who initially prosecuted Seaton. had refused to grant Seaton's request for executive clemency a short time before the habeas corpus hearing. And both King and Bingaman had refused to order an investigation into the Kddy County law enforcement establishment or of the handling of the Seaton case by the district attorney's office under Lee CaUiey, King's appointee after District Attorney Pat tfanagan was killed in a traffic accident durinf, King's first term. "There we were." recalled Seaton. "I was basically the center of attention with all these politicians there, when Hingamnn comes up to me and says, 'Sorry we were on the wrong "I told him.

'There's no fault, you were just following Hie state's Seaton said. "And then Unu'i- King conies up to me and says. 'Mr. Seaton, I ve heard about your case. If you ever need any help, call my However, Seaton takes tlie niceties with a grain of salt.

"Now that their ship has gone down, what else can they do?" he asked. THE GARDEN PATCH Two miles South of the Fairgrounds on U.S. 285. Open dally Sunday 8 A.M. to 6 P.M.

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Just North of Jim's Laundry a 3 624-0660 Seaton i.s hoping to supplement his with speaking engagements while lie is in law school. The S-UMW- he will be getting in educational grants will not support him. He already has several engagements lined up including a trip to speak to law students in Salt Lake City. Utah. Surprisingly, Seaton isn't bitter about the six years he spent in prison.

"I'm interested in the law." he said, "because I want to prove the system would work if the prosecutors and lawyers would follow it." City man wounded A Uoswcll man suffered an accidental gunshot wound to the index finger of his left hand while at his home, police reported Clinton Chambers. (iiiG Virginia was treated at St. Mary's Hospital and released. Gloria Noriega. Dunlap Star Route, P.O.

Box 430. told police that someone broke a glass-paneled door and two windows at her home, causing more that $100 worth of damage. No place like home For the first time in six years, Rene "Icrri Seoton, lull, spends some time with her fnther, Terry, center, outside prison walls after Judge George Perez, in a habeas corpus hearing in May, granted him a new trial on charges of the murder of Carlsbad baker George Gtofl Davldton photo Anderson, right, president of Northwest Albuquerque NAACP, is expected to join the Albuquerque NAACP in circulating a petition to investigate Eddy County officials who may have violated Seaton's rights in his 197 prosecution. it nets $1,500 By LEK DIXON Record City Kditor The rodeo held at Kastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds as a benefit for ex-ltoswell rodeo cowboy Darel Devenport netted more than reports Darel's mother, Mrs. 1) Devenport of I2ii7 Doming SI.

Devenport. 32. was flown in for the event with his therapist from the Texas rehabilitation facility where he is recovering from a broken neck. He was "the first patient ever flown from this hospital for any function." according to a hospital spokesman. Completely paralysed by fracturing two vertebrae while bronc riding in Amanllo, Texas.

Jan. 27. Devenport has staged a "tremendous comeback. The rehab people (Bivins Rehabilitation Center) say he'll he able to drive his car. with hand controls verv soon," Mrs.

Dcvetiporl (old (lie Daily Record. "lie's walking to tin feet with a walker lour limes a day now," she said, "but it's still hard for him to write. "That's why he asked me to get the Record to help him. He wants to thank all the people who have given him so much help with Ihi-ir (lowers and cards and their prayers, and especially Ihosc who helped with the rodeo. "Duke Stallard from Shepler's Western Wear ramrodded the whole thing," she went on, "and donated a saddle and other The rodeo judges, gave him their fees, Larry Chrislianson.

Joel and Al Smith. "Hill (Jletiii of Glenn's Furniture flew down there to Amarillo twice to bring him here and take him back. Bill Holiday from Klida furnished stock for the rodeo, and there's the Roswell Elks and Does and the contestants and all those who bought tickets for the rodeo. "He wanted to thank his doctors and his therapist. Genia and Dr.

Bob Smith in Roswell, whose bill for dental work was already marked 'paid when it came. And his friends Curtis Parsons. Jay While. Doug Moore, Robert West, W.A Tietjen and especially Larry Parker for taking care of Belly Deck (Darel horse). Devenport reminded his mother very emphatically, she said, "not to leave out his parents, T.D and LitVerne, and sister Peggy for handling bis business affairs and thank the Daily Record for all the publicity that's helped so much." YOU ARE INVITED TO A "PORTABLE PICNIC" Featuring The Wise Use Of The Microwave Oven And Many Of Your Favorite Portable Appliances Date: Tuesday, July 24, 1979 Time: 2:00 P.M.

and 7:30 P.M. Place: Reddy Room 415 N. Richardson Hostesses: Home Service Advisors Vickie Willis and Connie Moyers SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE.