FORMER MUNICIPAL JUDGE IN TEXAS INDICTED FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

WASHINGTON D.C. -- A federal grand jury in Houston returned an indictment against attorney and former Municipal Court Judge Ernesto Flores, Jr. for violating the constitutional rights of four female victims by sexually assaulting them, the Justice Department announced today.

The four-count indictment alleges the violations occurred from 1999 to 2001, while Flores was acting in his official capacity as a federally appointed City of Mercedes Municipal Court Judge. The indictment further alleges Flores used his position to deprive the victims of their federal civil rights by kissing or fondling them in exchange for favorable dispositions of their cases.

Specifically, the indictment alleges, Flores fondled and kissed family members of defendants in exchange for the defendants’ reduced bail or release from jail. Additionally, the indictment alleges he fondled a woman in exchange for a favorable disposition of her traffic citation.

One count carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine and up to three years supervised release. The other three counts of the indictment carry a penalty of up to one year imprisonment, up to a $100,000 fine and a year of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Mercedes Police Department with assistance provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas Rangers. The case is being jointly prosecuted by the office of United States Attorney Michael Shelby and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

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