Dallas

Defense Claims Government Constructed False Case in John Wiley Price Bribery Trial

The defense Monday accused the government of spending years building a false case against veteran Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price in opening statements at his bribery trial.[[414360543,R]]

Price attorney Shirley Baccus-Lobel said federal prosecutors left "no mud unslung" in the accusations, some of which date back to around 2005. She said no one could be expected to remember details on such old matters, but she said Price never sold his vote at Dallas County Commissioners Court.

"He just didn't. Never did, never will," Baccus-Lobel said. "It is a story of a man who not only works 24/7 for the county of Dallas. He does that same thing for his friends, day in and day out."

In the government's opening statement, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Bunch agreed Price is a hard-working, effective and well-prepared county commissioner, for which he is paid about $100,000 a year.

"He made a choice that he was entitled to something more," Bunch said.

The prosecutor said Price receive more than $1 million he never reported on income taxes from three women who are named in the indictment.

County assistant Daphne Fain, who is on trial with Price, was accused of paying her boss $127,000 through her side business.

Business owner Karen Manning, who has pleaded guilty and is expected to testify against Price, was accused of paying Price $83,000 through her African art business.

Bunch said Price received about $900,000 in cash, cars and real estate in return for his influence in Dallas County business from political consultant Kathy Nealy, who is to be tried separately.

Businesses were not accused of arranging bribes to Price. Bunch said Nealy decided to bribe Price on her own.

"She paid him on a regular basis so she was always in a position to succeed," Bunch said. "Nealy paid the bribes, Price accepted the bribes."

Bunch said Price urged county vendors to hire Nealy and provided here with confidential, inside information on county business.

"We will ask that you hold him to that oath he has taken time and time again, more than 30 years in county government," Bunch told the jury.

The defense attorney said all of the money that exchanged between Price and the woman can be explained as transactions between friends.

"He is the giver, not the taker," Baccus-Lobel said.

Cars purchased by Nealy and found at Price's home were being stored there as a favor to her, according to the defense, and money Price received from Manning and Fain was actually repayment of money they owed him. Baccus-Lobel accused the government of purposefully overlooking legitimate explanations in a quest to make Price look bad.

"A half-truth and a whole lie. These people are friends," Baccus-Lobel said.

The first prosecution witness was Dallas County Administrator Darryl Martin, who went through records detailing county business the government claims was the subject of bribes paid by Nealy.

People listening to the defense opening statement had differing views.

Criminal defense attorney Victor Vital, who is not connected with the case, said Baccus-Lobel was not as effective as she could have been.

"They're not putting their best foot forward at this point from a coherent, structured stand point, it's very disjointed," he said.

One key point the government admitted was that Price did not always vote in favor of the companies Nealy was lobbying for, but Baccus-Lobel did not mention that in her statement.

"If you've got a bribery scheme and you allegedly have got a politician in your pocket but the politician doesn't always deliver, then that's not a very good bribery scheme," Vital said.

Former Dallas City Councilwoman Diane Ragsdale, a strong Price supporter, said the defense statement was very strong.

"I think the opening remarks by the defense were absolutely exceptional. It continues to emphasize that Commissioner Price is not only highly intelligent, but he's also highly ethical," Ragsdale said.

The trial could last through June.

Click here for the latest from NBC 5's Ken Kalthoff who is tweeting live from the courthouse.

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