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Politics : American Presidential Politics and foreign affairs -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: haqihana who wrote (2302)	11/18/2005 12:54:31 PM
From: paret	Respond to of 71588

Judge Claims She Was Conducting Undercover Sting {Houston Democrat] click2houston ^ \| November 18, 2005 HOUSTON -- A long-time judge convicted of tampering with a record to renew her dead mother's handicapped parking permits initially told a grand jury that she was conducting an undercover sting when she submitted the fraudulent application. Jurors learned of the explanation Harris County Justice of the Peace Betty Brock Bell provided to the grand jury in her case earlier this year during the punishment phase of her trial Thursday. Bell, 56, couldn't provide any recordings or evidence to support the undercover sting claims. She also refused to sign a form allowing a search of her computer for such evidence, prosecutor Donna Goode said. During her trial, Bell's defense maintained that she made a mistake on the application. Her attorneys also argued that the investigation was sparked by her decision to fire a former employee. Bell was convicted Wednesday of using her deceased mother's name on an application to renew the parking permit in 2004. The penalty for the felony is up to two years in state jail or a maximum five years of probation. Bell, a Democrat, has been a justice of the peace for 20 years. Judges are automatically removed from office when convicted of a felony. Bell was suspended with pay from the bench on March 21, days after she was indicted.