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Wooten trial to begin Nov. 7
By Dan Eakin, deakin@acnpapers.com
After having been delayed twice this past summer, the trial of District Judge Suzanne Wooten is expected to get under way Monday in the Nathan E. White, Jr. Ceremonial Courtroom at the Collin County Courthouse.
Wooten faces felony charges of money laundering between $100,000 and $200,000, tampering with a government record, engaging in criminal activity and six counts of bribery.
Jury selection will begin at 9 a.m., and opening statements will take place after a jury is seated, either Monday afternoon or Tuesday, depending on how long it takes to select a jury.
The presiding judge will be Kerry Russell of the 7th District Court of Smith County.
Russell denied a motion by Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis that someone other than staff of the Texas Attorney General's Office prosecutes the case.
In addition to Wooten, three co-defendants are also facing charges in relation to the case.
Wooten is accused of having taken bribes totaling $150,000 between Jan. 4 and March 14, 2008 from David and Stacy Cary. Wooten's campaign manager, James Stephen Spencer, and the Carys are facing charges in the case.
A spokesperson in the district clerk's office said the fate of the Carys and Spencer will likely be decided following Wooten's trial.
Each of the bribery counts against Wooten alleges that she "did intentionally and knowingly solicit, accept and agree to accept from another benefits other than political contributions."
The Collin County District Attorney's office contended that the Carys' campaign contributions were in fact bribes to attempt to get Wooten to rule favorably in a civil case in which the Carys were involved.
After first being charged in the case, Wooten was placed on leave with pay.
Staff members in the attorney general's office refused to comment on the case due to a gag order placed on the case several months ago.
Under a previous set of indictments, Wooten had been scheduled to go on trial in June and again in August. In July, a new set of indictments replaced an old set, which resulted in a motion being granted to again reset the trial date.
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