Feds Jail Writer in Battle Over Notes

Aug. 1 -- A woman writing a book about the slaying of a Texas millionaire's wife has become a federal prisoner in a battle pitting prosecutors against the freedom of the press.

A judge jailed Vanessa Leggett on July 20 for refusing to hand over her notes to a federal grand jury investigating the slaying of the wife of a reputed bookie.

Leggett, 33, was found in contempt of court in a closed hearing. Prosecutors asked her to give up all her notes, tapes and material — originals and copies — related to the 1997 death of Doris Angleton.

In a statement through her attorney, Mike DeGeurin, Leggett has said she is trying to protect her rights as a journalist and public's right to a free press.

"I am not a martyr, and I want to see justice done, but I am doing what I must to protect the public's interest in a free press," Leggett said.

"Her position is that she cannot be an independent journalist while acting as an investigator for the government," said DeGeurin. "Then she becomes an agent of the government and her sources up and go away … and you don't have a free and independent press."

Prior Compromise Leads to Current Woes

Leggett's involvement in the Angleton case began after Texas state prosecutors focused their investigation on the victim's husband, Robert Angleton, and his brother, Roger. Both were charged with capital murder, as prosecutors believed Robert hired Roger to kill his wife to prevent her from collecting millions in a divorce settlement.

Roger committed suicide before he could go to trial and left behind a note that claimed he killed his sister-in-law and was framing Robert to extort money from him.

Leggett interviewed Roger in prison before his suicide. She was subpoenaed and handed over copies of her notes and taped interview with Roger to a state grand jury only after reaching an agreement in which investigators promised to give the materials back to her, DeGeurin said.

According to DeGeurin, that information only verified public information that was revealed in Roger Angleton's suicide note.