Ex-Detroit Court Clerk, Acquaintance Accept Responsibility In Bribes Case

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A former Detroit court clerk and a longtime acquaintance who authorities say took about $20,000 in bribes to dismiss more than $40,000 in traffic tickets and fines have accepted responsibility in the case.

The office of Michigan's attorney general says Annette Bates, an ex-36th District Court clerk, and Charles Fair pleaded guilty to forgery.

A judge on Friday ordered Bates to serve four years of probation and pay $10,000 in restitution.

Charges last year followed an investigation involving Attorney General Bill Schuette's office and the FBI's public corruption task force.

Schuette says over a two-year period the Detroit residents forged dismissals of traffic tickets, fines and citations in the name of 36th District Court judges.

Schuette's office says the judges weren't aware of the dismissals.

"Ms. Bates took personal advantage of the public office she was entrusted with," said Schuette, in a media release. "Not only did she break the law, she took advantage of a city rising from the ashes of bankruptcy."

"While restitution ordered to be paid by the former employee, Bates, will eventually restore the money to the 36th District Court and the City of Detroit, it will not fully repair the public's trust and confidence in the court," added 36th District Court Administrator, Kelli Moore Owen. "That will be done by the current Administration's enduring commitment to root-out any corruption in the court, while on the path to becoming a national model for excellence in both internal operations and service to the public."

Fair's sentencing is March 14.

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