Former judge guilty of making false statements to federal agents

TYLER -- A 49-year-old former municipal court judge has pleaded guilty to making a false statement to federal investigators in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales.

Monica Lynn Corker, of Kemp, pleaded guilty on Nov. 17 to making a false statement before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie.

According to information presented in court, on Sep. 17, 2009, Corker was the municipal court judge for the city of Seven Points, when she was interviewed by federal agents.

The investigation was triggered by allegations that the city judge was dismissing cases, for example a speeding ticket, and pocketing money that offenders paid in court fines.

During the interview, Corker was specifically asked if she had ever deleted from the computer server of the Seven Points Municipal Court entries concerning criminal misdemeanor cases pending, or that had been pending, before the municipal court.

Corker told the FBI that she had only deleted entries that were duplicates or erroneous entries, a statement which she knew to be untrue.

She was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 3.

Corker faces up to 5 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Henderson County District Attorney's Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.