Update: Bond Denied for Ouachita County Judge Accused of Bribery
By: Staff
Updated: January 18, 2013
Friday 11:30 Update:
Bond was denied Friday morning for a Ouachita County Judge, accused of bribery and conspiracy charges involving FEMA.
A judge denied bond for Judge James Hesterly for alleged threats he made to a witness and an FBI agent.
Lawyers for Hesterly dispute those threats and a bond hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
Hesterly remains in the Union County Jail.
Bond was set for the second man involved, Harry Clemons. His bond is $5,000 and he's not allowed to have contact with any of the witnesses.
A trial date has been set for March 13th in El Dorado for both Clemons and Judge James Hesterly.
Thursday:
A Ouachita County Judge is facing federal bribery and conspiracy charges involving FEMA.
Judge James Hesterly and a second man, Harry Clemons were both indicted and accused of a scheme to award a FEMA disaster-relief contract to Clemons in return for a contribution to Hesterly's 2010 reelection campaign for Ouachita County Judge.
Hesterly has been the county judge of Ouachita County Arkansas for the past 10 years. Harry Clemons is the owner and operator of Clemons Construction.
Hesterly and Clemons are both scheduled to be arraigned Friday at the Federal Courthouse in El Dorado, Arkansas, at 10 a.m.
Bond was denied Friday morning for a Ouachita County Judge, accused of bribery and conspiracy charges involving FEMA.
A judge denied bond for Judge James Hesterly for alleged threats he made to a witness and an FBI agent.
Lawyers for Hesterly dispute those threats and a bond hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
Hesterly remains in the Union County Jail.
Bond was set for the second man involved, Harry Clemons. His bond is $5,000 and he's not allowed to have contact with any of the witnesses.
A trial date has been set for March 13th in El Dorado for both Clemons and Judge James Hesterly.
Thursday:
A Ouachita County Judge is facing federal bribery and conspiracy charges involving FEMA.
Judge James Hesterly and a second man, Harry Clemons were both indicted and accused of a scheme to award a FEMA disaster-relief contract to Clemons in return for a contribution to Hesterly's 2010 reelection campaign for Ouachita County Judge.
Hesterly has been the county judge of Ouachita County Arkansas for the past 10 years. Harry Clemons is the owner and operator of Clemons Construction.
Hesterly and Clemons are both scheduled to be arraigned Friday at the Federal Courthouse in El Dorado, Arkansas, at 10 a.m.
Comments
Yee Haw! Good 'ole country boy... above the law.
Vlad I.
January 18, 2013 at 2:08 am
