On behalf of The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C posted in Child Custody on Monday, October 15, 2012
We’ve made the point in this space a number of times that one of the best ways to better the odds of getting a favorable outcome in a child custody case is to work with an experienced St. Louis family law attorney with a record of success.
One of the ways that doesn’t work so well: trying to bribe a judge.
This rash (and illegal) approach was taken by a woman southwest of us, in Texas. She was recently sentenced to 30 days in jail for her part in a plan to bribe a judge and sway future court decisions in her favor.
The 54-year-old will get in addition to her month in jail, 10 years on probation and a $10,000 fine.
Prosecutors said she paid out $150,000 to help a judge in the 380th Judicial District in Collin County, Texas, get elected. The woman convicted of bribery was apparently hoping to get a new judge to preside over her acrimonious child custody battle involving her husband and his former wife.
She wound up being convicted of six counts of bribery, money laundering and engaging in organized criminal activity.
The judge presiding over the bribery case scolded the woman, saying she’s apparently used to being able to buy her way out of problems.
The judge who was on the receiving end of the bribes was convicted last year on the same felony charges of bribery, money laundering and organized criminal activity, as well tampering with government records.
The judge agreed to plead guilty in the case and got no jail time, but is also going to have 10 years of probation as well as loss of a career.
Trials still loom for the judge’s campaign manager and for the woman’s husband, who were also allegedly part of the scheme.
Source: dallasnews.com, “University Park woman gets jail time for bribing judge,” Valerie Wigglesworth, Oct. 11, 2012
- Our St. Louis firm represents people in family law matters, including child custody disputes.