Tampering Conviction Gets Judge 4 Years Probation

KINGSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A South Texas judge must serve four years of probation after being convicted of tampering with a government document involving a former client.

Kleberg (KLAY'-berg) County Court-at-Law Judge Alfred Isassi (ee-SAH'-see) was also sentenced Wednesday to 800 hours of community service and fined $1,500.

A jury in Kingsville convicted Isassi of forging a prosecutor's signature to dismiss a misdemeanor hot check case for an ex-client. The woman testified she was prepared to plead guilty and didn't seek dismissal.

The Corpus Christi Caller-Times (http://bit.ly/1iykCg0 ) reports Isassi denies wrongdoing and says he witnessed the prosecutor sign the form. The prosecutor denies it.

A visiting judge decided the penalty for Isassi, who could have faced two years behind bars.

Messages left for Isassi and with County Judge Rudy Madrid weren't immediately returned Thursday.