World's Dumbest Judges and Cops

Judges and Lawyers - The FBI May Be Listening When You Fix Cases

Some lawyers in South Texas looking over their shoulders for the FBI. The Associated Press reports today that "an ex-state lawmaker pleaded guilty Friday to extortion after admitting paying a disgraced South Texas judge for favorable rulings.

Former Democratic Rep. Jose Santiago "Jim" Solis served seven terms representing the Rio Grande Valley in the Texas House before retiring in 2007. He is a longtime personal injury lawyer in Harlingen, but calls to his office seeking comment were not immediately returned.

The 47-year-old plead guilty to a one-count criminal information which charged him with aiding and abetting extortion by former state District Judge Abel C. Limas, the U.S. attorney's office in Brownsville said in a statement.

Prosecutors say Solis was one of many attorneys who paid for favorable pretrial rulings from Limas in civil matters pending in his court, including $8,000 Solis paid in a case involving a helicopter crash on South Padre Island. The U.S. attorney's office said the pair described that payment as eight golf balls."

Cops - Don't Moonlight for Drug Dealers
A former Harris County sheriff's deputy, George Wesley Ellington, 38, pleaded guilty April 14 to one count of extortion. The Houston Chronicle reports that he admitted providing law enforcement information and security protection for $500 to someone he believed to transporting Ecstasy.

Police Chiefs - Don't Email Pictures of Naked Women to Other Officers - Especially the Women

 Poteet Police Chief John Overstreet resigned Thursday effective immediately, city attorney Frank Garza said Friday, reported the San Antonio Express-News.

Overstreet had become involved in a controversy Wednesday when he texted what he termed a “funny message” that included topless photos of women to several friends. Garza said it helped trigger the resignation.

The chief inadvertently sent the text to Alice Bhirdo, the only full-time female police officer on his 12-person staff.