Aug. 10, 2006, 12:34AM
ERIC EUGENE COOPER TRIAL
Roaring tale of deceit ends with a whimper
Facing a gallery of exes, ex-con cuts his trial short by pleading guilty

By PEGGY O'HARE
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Perhaps it was the T-shirt that one of Eric Eugene Cooper's ex-wives wore to court with the words "I play dirty" displayed on her chest. Maybe it was the lack of sympathy from those in the audience, including one former girlfriend holding up her cell phone to snap a picture of Cooper at the defense table.

Sitting in his wheelchair, with a row of ex-wives and ex-girlfriends staring him down, Cooper cut his trial short without explanation Wednesday and pleaded guilty to altering one ex-wife's car title. The move stopped the flow of witnesses offering damaging testimony on his complicated love life and various alleged deceits.


The small-time ex-con from San Jacinto County, whose charades have drawn national attention from television shows such as Oprah and 20/20, withdrew his not-guilty plea and accepted an agreement with prosecutors requiring him to serve 15 years in prison.