Another Plea in Jefferson Court Scandal

The Times-Picayune reports that Phil Demma, a Jefferson Parish juvenile court officer and reserve deputy sheriff, will plead guilty to two felony charges in Federal Court on Friday. One of the charges is related to the Copeland case, but another is related to a case tried by Judge Joan Benge in the 24th JDC. Judge Benge has been named as a suspect in the corruption investigation. "They'll follow the trail where the evidence leads," former federal prosecutor Shaun Clarke said. "We don't know that other judges will be named in an indictment, but it's very clear that the conduct of other judges in the 24th District court is being investigated closely."

Posted by AJR at April 24, 2003 10:20 AM