Posted on 04/27/2010 7:13:07 PM PDT by GeronL
DALLAS, TX (KERA) - Former Dallas Representative Terri Hodge will spend in year in prison for breaking tax laws. She's the latest to be sentenced in the Dallas City Hall corruption case. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports.
Hodge could have received probation - a best case scenario - or up to 3 years in prison. Her attorney, Jeff Kearney, argued for the former, but the judge wasn't buying it. Kearney said Hodge will serve her time.
Kearney: Ms. Hodge is going to do what the judge ordered her to do, return to the community as soon as she can, and continue to work for the good of citizens here in any capacity she can do.
In front of the judge, Hodge tearfully apologized to supporters and constituents in District 100, which she represented for 14 years. Judge Barbara Lynn said she was impressed by many letters praising Hodge. But the case wasn't about unpaid taxes. It was about accepting money and benefits from developers with business before the Legislature, where Hodge served. "I won't ignore the facts before me," said the Judge. "I'm not na ve."
Former Dallas legislator Harryette Earhardt disagreed with the sentence.
Harryette Earhardt: I respect the judge and believe she did what she felt was right thing. Do I think it was right? No.
Earhardt calls Hodge a friend whom she just does not see as a criminal. Earhardt knows Hodge as a long time public servant with an expertise in helping those in jail, and comforting families of those who are incarcerated.
Earhardt: She has more knowledge of the prison system than almost anyone. This will just be added to Terri's knowledge.
Earhardt hopes to set up an office for Hodge upon her release, so she can help others in jail. Hodge starts her sentence June 22nd.
Dallas Mourning Snooze says....
12th paragraph
“Hodge, a Democrat, accepted money from prominent affordable-housing developers Brian and Cheryl Potashnik in the form of rent and utility payments. The Potashniks, both of whom have pleaded guilty to bribery, let her live in one of their low-income complexes for reduced rent and also bought her about $2,000 worth of carpet..”
How did I miss the link?
I never miss the link!!
I am so ashamed. I must have gotten ahead of myself.
“...with an expertise in helping those in jail, and comforting families of those who are incarcerated.”
Real World Training for her future resume? *SNORT*
If she lands a job, ANY job after prison, I’ll give 0bama credit for ONE job created, LOL!
lol
One of those corrupt businesses that do business with local governments will hire her, for something.
As a native Dallasite that has watched that city being taken over by corrupt minority liberal Dems for the past few decades, it is really nice to see that at least a few of them in recent years are finally being tried and sentenced. Too bad that they haven’t nailed Ron Kirk (former mayor) or John Wylie Price (County Commish) yet. JYP is the idiot that screamed RAAAACIST when another council member mentioned that funds were going into a black hole because there was no record of where the money was being spent.
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