'Dead men can't testify': East Texas judge accused of coercing plea with death threat

'Dead men can't testify': East Texas judge accused of coercing plea with death threat

Federal Lawsuit Alleges Judge Issued Death Threat in Rains County Plea Deal

A federal lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of Texas accuses a sitting Rains County Justice of the Peace of threatening a defendantand#39;s life to coerce a plea deal in a felony case over which the judge allegedly had no legal authority. The lawsuit, filed by Coby Wiebe, names Justice of the Peace Robert Jenkins Franklin in his individual capacity and Rains County as defendants. It alleges gross constitutional violations and systemic miscon…