Lawyer says Simpson will plead not guilty

By Brian Knox
Published November 21, 2004

Rebecca Simpson, accused of attempting to hire someone to kill another Bridgeport resident, remains in jail with bail set at $1 million.

Simpson, 42, is being held in Falls County in Marlin, near Waco. Female prisoners at the Wise County jail have been moved to other locations due to the ongoing jail expansion project.

Simpson’s attorney, Bill Burdock of Saginaw, could not be reached for comment this past week, but in a press release issued Nov. 12, the attorney said that Simpson had been scheduled to have surgery the week of Nov. 8 and had been denied medication. He added that Simpson has also been served with divorce papers by her husband, Bridgeport attorney Ross Simpson, as well as a court order prohibiting her from selling any property.

Burdock said in the press release that Mrs. Simpson will request a jury trial and will plead “not guilty.”

“Mrs. Simpson is a strong woman mentally and physically and they cannot break her spirit,” Burdock said. “She is completely devoted to her children and her faith. I believe this will pull her through.”

Simpson was arrested Nov. 1 in Bridgeport after trying to hire a man to kill Shemane Watts and injure her husband, Danny, according to the report of investigating officer Texas Ranger Dewayne Dockery.

The report stated that a meeting was set up in Southlake between Simpson and an undercover officer posing as a potential hit man. Simpson offered $2,000 for the murder of Shemane Watts and $1,000 for the assault of Danny Watts.

She also told the undercover officer that she wanted it to look like a drug deal that went bad, according to the report.

Even before the arrest for solicitation of murder, the Bridgeport Police Department had been investigating an incident at The Gym, owned by the Watts. According to Bridgeport Officer Robert Luna’s report obtained by the Wise County Messenger through an open record’s request, Shemane Watts said she was assaulted by Simpson on the afternoon of Oct. 13. The report said Watts said Simpson walked into the business yelling, cussing and waving her mobile phone at Watts.

The report went on to say that Simpson struck Watts on the left side of her head and face. When Watts tried to call the police, Simpson threw the phone into the street. An arrest was not made following that incident.

District Attorney Jana Jones has recused herself from the case and has brought in Christy Jack with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office to handle the Simpson case.

“Given the fact that I’ve practiced law with Ross and Mike (Simpson), and will continue to do so, I feel that this (recusal) is the best thing to do,” Jones said of her decision not to prosecute the case.

District Judge John Fostel, who was formerly a law partner with Ross Simpson, has also recused himself from hearing the case. Judge Jerry Woodlock from Gainesville will now hear the case.

Rebecca Simpson will be in 271st District Court in Decatur on Monday for a bond reduction hearing.