Court Refuses to Release Writer Held in Contempt

A federal appeals court on Friday refused to free a novice crime writer jailed for withholding notes from a grand jury investigating a 1997 Texas society murder.

Vanessa Leggett, 33, has spent nearly a month in jail for refusing to hand over the notes that contain information about the shooting and ensuing jailhouse suicide of a suspect. She is working on a book about the case.

“The district court did not abuse its discretion in ordering Leggett incarcerated for contempt,” said the opinion issued by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

Leggett was found in contempt of court July 20 for refusing to share all of her interviews with a federal grand jury. She is being held in federal detention in Houston and could be held for up to 18 months.

Doris Angleton was found shot to death in her Houston home April 16, 1997. Her husband, Robert Angleton, and his brother, Roger, were charged with capital murder. Prosecutors alleged that Robert Angleton, a millionaire former bookie, hired his brother to kill his wife to prevent her from getting millions in a divorce settlement.

Roger Angleton spoke with Leggett before committing suicide in jail before his trial. He left behind notes confessing to the slaying, saying he planned the murder and framed his brother.

Federal prosecutors contend Leggett is not a journalist and therefore does not fall under the 1st Amendment’s protection of the press. Leggett has not published a book or news articles.

The appeals court ruling said Leggett is not entitled to 1st Amendment protection for refusing to hand over her notes:

“Even assuming that Leggett, a virtually unpublished freelance writer, operating without an employer or a contract for publication, qualifies as a journalist under the law, the journalist privilege is ineffectual against a grand jury subpoena, absent evidence of governmental harassment or oppression.”

Earlier this week, Leggett said she had planned to finish her book this summer.