PJBoosinger

"Goldman, the city’s key witness, testified last week that PETA had asked him to apply for a job at U.S. Global Exotics to investigate conditions there."  And he was paid handsomely for his "reports".  "A private investigator apparently working for attorney Lance Evans called 911 on Monday from court to report that Goldman had admitted under oath that he was operating as a private investigator without a license, a violation of state law. Officers arrived at the court to investigate, but Goldman was not arrested."  And why the hell wasn't he arrested?  That's what I want to know!

Is Howard Goldman a licensed private investigator in Texas?  He doesn't show up in a search here.

Here's a few excerpts of Texas law on the issue of private investigators who, yes, indeed, have to be licensed.

OCCUPATIONS CODE

TITLE 10. OCCUPATIONS RELATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY

CHAPTER 1702. PRIVATE SECURITY

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 1702.002.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:

(18)   "Private investigator" means an individual who performs one or more services described by Section 1702.104.

(12)  "License" means a permit issued by the commission that entitles a person to operate as a security services contractor or investigations company.

(13)  "License holder" means a person to whom the commission issues a license.

Sec. 1702.101.  INVESTIGATIONS COMPANY LICENSE REQUIRED.  Unless the person holds a license as an investigations company, a person may not:

(1)  act as an investigations company;

(2)  offer to perform the services of an investigations company; or

(3)  engage in business activity for which a license is required under this chapter.

Sec. 1702.104.  INVESTIGATIONS COMPANY.  (a)  A person acts as an investigations company for the purposes of this chapter if the person:

(1)  engages in the business of obtaining or furnishing, or accepts employment to obtain or furnish, information related to:

(A)  crime or wrongs done or threatened against a state or the United States;

(B)  the identity, habits, business, occupation, knowledge, efficiency, loyalty, movement, location, affiliations, associations, transactions, acts, reputation, or character of a person;

(C)  the location, disposition, or recovery of lost or stolen property; or

(D)  the cause or responsibility for a fire, libel, loss, accident, damage, or injury to a person or to property;

(2)  engages in the business of securing, or accepts employment to secure, evidence for use before a court, board, officer, or investigating committee;

(3)  engages in the business of securing, or accepts employment to secure, the electronic tracking of the location of an individual or motor vehicle other than for criminal justice purposes by or on behalf of a governmental entity; or

(4)  engages in the business of protecting, or accepts employment to protect, an individual from bodily harm through the use of a personal protection officer.

(b)  For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), obtaining or furnishing information includes information obtained or furnished through the review and analysis of, and the investigation into the content of, computer-based data not available to the public.

Sec. 1702.388.  VIOLATION OF CHAPTER; OFFENSE.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the person violates a provision of this chapter for which a specific criminal penalty is not prescribed.

(b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if the person has previously been convicted under this chapter of failing to hold a license, registration, certificate, or commission that the person is required to hold under this chapter.

 How do I get the experience required to be a private investigator?

The most common way to get the experience is to go to work for a licensed private investigations company. They will register you with the Private Security Bureau as their employee. After you have worked for a licensed company as their registered employee, you can meet the experience requirement. Legally obtained experience could also include full-time, paid employment as a peace officer or in the case of a private investigator insurance adjuster. The only education that is acceptable instead of the experience requirement is a four-year degree in Criminal Justice from an accredited college or university.

I haven't seen a single thing reported that would even hint that Howard Goldman was qualified to be a private investigator.  This is a civil case.  If there's an obvious criminal in the room, the government has an OBLIGATION to investigate and act!

"Attorneys for U.S. Global Exotics were admonished Tuesday by the judge for trying to have Goldman arrested."

There's an alleged criminal standing before you and you admonish the people reporting the crime instead of insisting it be investigated and pursued.  Shame, SHAME, on you Judge.  Your obvious bias is showing!!!

"Linda Frank, an attorney for Arlington, said she was disappointed that U.S. Global’s attorneys would try to have a witness arrested to gain an edge during the civil hearing."

Ms. Frank, it is you in whom I am disappointed.  Clearly you support the concept of ignoring one crime in favor of prosecuting this civil case on the foundation of a criminal's activities.  Your bias is showing too as well as your inclination to prosecute selectively.  No intention of "seeking the truth" in you I see!

Teeny, tiny courts!  You can almost always trust them to behave inappropriately!!!

I certainly hope the officers did their job and issued a citation to Mr. Goldman but somehow I have doubts.

I certainly hope the parties click here and follow through.  I may send in a complaint my own little self since I've "become aware of a potential criminal or administrative violation of Chapter 1702".  If I were the private investigator who was present in that courtroom, I would most assuredly be offended by Golman representing himself as one.  He/she has every right to pursue that matter promptly.  Good for him/her for looking after his/her profession!  Now, if we could just get SOME judges and lawyers to do the same.