Dallas Corruption Trial Underway

By BJ Austin

Dallas, TX –

The corruption trial of the former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem is underway. KERA's BJ Austin says lawyers made opening statements to the jury yesterday, and the government called its first witness in what's expected to be a lengthy trial.

It's been four years since FBI agents raided the city hall offices of Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill, and executed search warrants on the homes and offices of the four other defendants. They are charged with bribery and extortion in a scheme prosecutors say revolved around tax credits and city council approval for low income housing projects. The first witness was an FBI agent who testified about the raid on Sheila Farrington's home. She is now married to Don Hill. Her attorney, Victor Vital, believes his case if off to a good start.

Vital: What we had a chance to show the jury is what was going on inside Sheila Hill's mind, which is important in a criminal case. What we think we told the jury is that Sheila Hill was providing in her mind legitimate services to low income housing developers.

One of those developers, Brian Potashnik is charged with bribery and was to be at the defense table with the others. But he and his wife Cheryl apparently cut a deal with prosecutors last week. Jurors were told that Potashnik will testify against the others.