Editing Winkler County, Texas (section)

===Nursing controversy===
{{main|Winkler County nurse whistleblower case}}
In 2009, at Winkler County Memorial Hospital, two nurses, Anne Mitchell and Vicki Galle, were retaliated against for reporting physician Rolando Arafiles' inappropriate medical treatments to the [[Texas Medical Board]].<ref>[http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/437/old-boys-network Old Boys Network], This American Life</ref> The story received national attention.<ref name=autogenerated2>[http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/123842324.html Veteran Texas Sheriff Sentenced To Jail In Nurse Retaliation Case<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The retaliation against the two nurses involved an investigation by the county sheriff Robert Roberts, a friend and former business partner of Arafiles, into the nurses allegedly harassing the physician by filing the complaint. Arafiles approached Roberts after receiving notification from the board that a complaint had been filed by persons whose identities the board decided to shield. Roberts, armed with search warrants, set to work finding out who had contacted the medical board. After obtaining confidential medical records based on protected private health-care information provided by Arafiles, Roberts brought the case to the prosecutor. County attorney Scott Tidwell sought to prosecute the two nurses for misuse of official information, a felony that carries a possible $10,000 fine and a 10-year jail sentence. A grand jury, before which Roberts was the sole witness, indicted the two nurses. They were immediately fired from their jobs at the hospital. The pair had been members of the administration responsible for credentialing physicians, quality assurance, and risk management.

The charges against Galle were dismissed at the last hour before trial. On February 11, 2010, Mitchell was acquitted by a jury that deliberated for less than an hour.<ref>{{cite web|title=Texas Jury Acquits Winkler County Nurse|url=http://lawmedconsultant.com/145/texas-jury-acquits-winkler-county-nurse/|publisher=Law Med Blog|access-date=December 9, 2012}}</ref>  The [[Texas Attorney General]]'s office became involved after the criminal prosecution against the two nurses ended, investigating the actions of the prosecution and law enforcement. Ultimately, indictments against four of the people involved in the retaliation against the nurses were issued, which included the same felony charge of misuse of official information, which Roberts and Tidwell has pursued against the nurses. Arafiles was indicted on felony retaliation and misuse of official information charges. Roberts and Tidwell were indicted on misuse of official information and official oppression charges. Hospital administrator Stan Wiley was indicted on felony retaliation charges and accepted a plea deal in March 2011, where he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in exchange for cooperating with the state. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $2,000.<ref>[http://lawmedconsultant.com/1776/winkler-county-hospital-admin-stan-wiley-pleads-guilty-and-is-in-jail/ Winkler County Hospital Admin Stan Wiley Pleads Guilty And Is In Jail – Law Med Blog<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Sheriff Roberts was convicted at trial and was sentenced to 100 days in jail on each of four felony counts, fined $6000 on four felony and two misdemeanor counts, and sentenced to four years felony probation on two counts each of misuse of official information and retaliation.<ref name=autogenerated2 />  In September 2011, former county attorney Scott Tidwell was found guilty of misuse of official information, retaliation, and official oppression, sentenced to 120 days in jail and fined $6000.<ref>[http://www.newswest9.com/story/15615919/scott-tidwell-sentenced-for-retaliating-against-kermit-nurses Scott Tidwell Sentenced for Retaliating Against Kermit Nurses - KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX: newswest9.com |<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Arafiles also cut a deal with prosecutors and pled guilty in exchange for 60 days in jail, the surrender of his medical license, a $5,000 fine, and 5 years probation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Arafiles Giulty In Sweetheart Plea Deal: 2 Months Jail Time|url=http://lawmedconsultant.com/2680/arafiles-giulty-in-sweetheart-plea-deal-2-months-jail-time/|publisher=Law med Blog|access-date=December 9, 2012}}</ref>

Mitchell and Galle sued Winkler Memorial Hospital, the county, the sheriff, Wiley, Arafiles, Tidwell, and District Attorney Michael Fostel in United States District Court on August 29, 2009, for deprivation of rights, vindictive prosecution, conspiracy to interfere with employment relationship, violation of the Texas Whistleblower Act, and assorted other claims.<ref>{{cite web|title=Winkler County Nurses Fight Back, File Lawsuit|url=http://lawmedconsultant.com/157/winkler-county-nurse-fight-back-file-lawsuit/|publisher=Law Med Blog|access-date=December 9, 2012}}</ref> The county settled the suit on behalf of all the defendants for $750,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pay Up Winkler County: $750,000 for Being Assholes|url=http://lawmedconsultant.com/921/pay-up-winkler-county-750000-for-being-assholes/|publisher=Law med Blog|access-date=December 9, 2012}}</ref>