Page 96 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2024 - Online Magazine

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about the Waco Siege.”
He prosecuted the forensic aspects of the trial,
including the investigation, which took several
years.
Other notable cases John helped litigate were the
1994 Baylor men’s basketball cheating scandal, the
infamous 1998 murder and embezzlement case in
Kosse, TX, and the Dan Morales tobacco fraud case
in 2003.

John eventually transferred to the Austin U.S.
Attorney’s office. After the horrible events of 9/11,
he was assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task
Force, due to his background in intelligence and
high security clearance in the Army.
In 2007, John retired from the U.S. Attorney's office
and moved back to New Mexico to teach at the
federal law enforcement training center in Artesia.
After four years there, John moved to Roswell to
retire.

However, the local district attorney found out
he was a former prosecutor, and she needed an
experienced attorney to litigate murder cases and
help new attorneys. He wasn’t licensed in NM, but
she told him he could prosecute with a provisional
license for a year. During that time, he took and
passed the New Mexico bar exam.

When John’s wife became ill, he cut back his time
in the courtroom. After she passed, he returned for
a while, until he met a lovely lady named Sharron.
After they married, they moved to Lubbock, where
John continues his fascinating life. Only now, his
interests don’t require a law degree or security
clearance. He
enjoys music, guitar
lessons, traveling,
and volunteering
regularly at the
Buddy Holly Hall.
For those lucky
enough to know
John Phinizy, more
captivating stories
are sure to surface.

96 Lubbock Senior Link