Taxpayers To Pay For Some Of Commissioner John Wiley Price's Defense Bill
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DALLAS (CBS 11 NEWS) - Taxpayers will pick up the tab for some of Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price's defense in his public corruption trial. But he will still have to pay as well.
On Friday, Magistrate Judge Renee Toliver ordered Commissioner Price to pay $20,000 to the court by March 15.
The judge also required Mr. Price make six other payments, totaling $60,000 by March of next year.
Starting April 1, Commissioner Price will have to pay an additional $500 each month to the court for the duration of the case.
Taxpayers we asked have mixed emotions. Carl Dill of Dallas said, "I think that's crazy. He should be able to pay for his own defense."
Dallas resident Cheshona says, "For what he has done for our community, some of us need to reach out and help, but other times, it's on his end what he needs to take care of."
The judge appointed Dallas attorney Shirley Baccus-Lobel to represent Mr. Price. His long-time lawyer Billy Ravkind is not appointed to represent him in the case. No word yet on what Ravkind's role will be going forward.
We called both Baccus-Lobel and Ravkind seeking comment, but they didn't return our calls.
Commissioner Price, his political consultant Kathy Nealy, his assistant Dapheny Fain, and business consultant Christian Campbell have all pleaded not guilty to charges in the public corruption case, and will go to trial in January of next year.
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