A Superior Court judge in North Carolina was charged in federal court with attempting to bribe a FBI agent with “a couple of cases of beer” and cash for access to text messages involving family members, The News & Observer newspaper reported Wednesday.
Judge Arnold Ogden Jones II, a registered Democrat who was elected to an eight-year term in 2008, according to the newspaper, allegedly sent a text message an FBI agent Oct. 10 asking for text messages between two phone numbers. The indictment said the judge told the officer the texts were just for himself and involved “family members,” according to the News & Observer.
The agent pushed back on the judge’s request and told Jones on Oct. 19 that there was no legal probable cause to obtain the information but that he would try to get it.
The judge and the agent met in person Oct. 27, discussed a fee for the information, and Jones reportedly offered, “a couple of cases of beer,” according to the report.
Then on Monday, the agent told the judge he had the text messages, and Jones allegedly said the had a “paycheck” for the agent. Jones also agreed at the time to give the agent $100 instead of the beer, according to the report.
On Tuesday, according to the report, Jones met the agent and allegedly gave him $100.
Jones was charged with attempting to bribe a public official and attempting to influence an official proceeding, according to the publication. The News & Observer said attempts to reach Jones on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
