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Judge Charged in Federal Bribery Case With Paying FBI Agent for Text Messages

November 11, 2015

The ABA Journal featured a story last week that certainly raised eyebrows across the legal community.

North Carolina superior court judge Arnold Ogden Jones II was federally indicted after allegedly paying a FBI agent $100 in cash for a disk purportedly containing copies of text messages between two phone numbers.

He is charged with promising and paying a bribe to a public official, promising and paying a gratuity to a public official and corruptly attempting to influence an official proceeding. To legally obtain texts, a warrant generally is required.

It appears unclear exactly why Jones allegedly wanted the texts although he told the agent it was a family matter. He initially offered to give the unidentified FBI agent a couple of cases of beer, but was persuaded to pay him $100 instead, the indictment says.

Yup, you can get more beer for $100. My math skills aren't great, but you can get more cases of even premium beer for $100. Why would a judge think this conduct was ok, assuming the allegations are true? That is what truly baffles me.

The judge was released without bond, based on his promise to appear at future court hearings. More to come, no doubt.

Hat tip to my friend and colleague Tina Ayiotis.

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