Simpson indicted

Tarrant County grand jury finds evidence of murder plot

By Brian Knox
Published January 30, 2005

Rebecca Simpson of Bridgeport has been indicted for solicitation of capital murder by a Tarrant County grand jury.

On Wednesday, the grand jury returned an indictment, indicating there is sufficient evidence to move the case forward. Simpson is accused of trying to hire someone to kill Bridgeport resident Shemane Watts last October.

Simpson was arrested Nov. 1 in Bridgeport following an undercover investigation. According to a report by Texas Ranger Dewayne Dockery, Simpson tried to solicit an undercover officer posing as a potential hit man. The report said that Simpson told the officer she wanted Watts to “go away” and offered to pay the “hit man” $2,000 to murder Watts, saying she wanted it to look like a drug deal gone bad

Because the solicitation took place in a parking lot of a business in Southlake, which is in Tarrant County, the case was filed in that county.

“We felt like legally speaking we could (file the case) in either county,” District Attorney Jana Jones said. “Due to the fact that more of the ‘meat,’ if you will, of the alleged offense took place in Tarrant County, that is the better venue.”

Jones said it also is cost effective for the county.

“That saves us the cost of getting a special prosecutor and a visiting judge,” she said.

Jones has recused herself from the case because she has shared the courtroom many times with Simpson’s husband, Ross, who is an attorney with Simpson, Boyd and Powers. Christy Jack, an assistant district attorney with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office, is the special prosecutor in the case.

Jack said Wednesday that she could not comment on what was presented to the grand jury but did say the investigation was ongoing.

Simpson is currently out of jail after posting bail in November. Jack said she is unsure if another arrest warrant will be issued for Simpson following her Tarrant County indictment.

“It will be up to the judge,” she said. “It is my understanding she’ll remain out on bond.”

No trial date has been set.

Simpson is also facing misdemeanor assault charges in county court on a separate incident involving Simpson and Watts, but County Attorney Greg Lowery said he will wait until the felony charges are resolved before moving forward with that case.