Rep. Dawnna Dukes pleads not guilty
Representative facing corruption charges says baby sitter was no-show.
Austin Democrat declares she’s “unequivocally not guilty” as she’s arraigned on 13 counts of tampering with public records.
Absent from 68 percent of meetings in the recent state legislative session, it had appeared Friday morning that state Rep. Dawnna Dukes would be a no-show at her arraignment on criminal public corruption charges, too.
With his docket almost cleared for the day around lunchtime, Travis County state District Judge Brad Urrutia and his staff scrambled to get in touch with the 46th District representative and her attorneys, whom they hadn’t heard from. At one point, the judge told his bailiff that Dukes’ absence wouldn’t be tolerated.
The Austin Democrat eventually made her way into the courtroom — 2½ hours after she was scheduled to arrive — and was arraigned on 13 felony counts of tampering with public records. She had canceled her last court appearance in May, invoking a law that exempts legislators from being compelled to court while the session is going on. That privilege is typically used by lawmakers who are attorneys, not by those who face criminal charges.
Instructed by the judge to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty, Dukes responded to each count with “unequivocally not guilty.” If found guilty, Dukes, who also faces two misdemeanor counts
of abuse of official capacity, could face a maximum punishment of 28 years in prison.
Dukes, 53, told reporters outside of the courtroom she will not accept a plea deal because “I didn’t do what they are alleging.” Absent a change in strategy, the case is likely headed to trial on Oct. 16.
“No one has heard all of the evidence and heard my side,” Dukes told reporters. “There has been a barrage of print media that has attempted to try me in the court of public opinion, yet the court and the proceedings have not begun. And when they do, my attorneys will tell the full story, the whole story, and show that unequivocally I am not guilty of these charges.”
The proposed plea offer — no one on either side is revealing specifics — will likely be rescinded in advance of trial, according to a conversation at the judge’s
State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, 53, told reporters outside of the courtroom she will not accept a plea deal.
bench between prosecutor Justin Wood and defense attorney Matthew Shrum.
Dukes previously backed out of an agreement with former District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, who offered to drop her case if Dukes agreed to step down from her House seat. Dukes announced she would quit, citing health reasons, but reversed course in January and was instead sworn in for a 12th two-year term at the legislative session.
A grand jury indicted Dukes on Jan. 18, finding sufficient evidence for prosecutors to proceed with a case that accuses Dukes of using her legislative staff for personal reasons and for collecting pay from the state in the 2014 session for days she didn’t travel to the Capitol.
Dukes chalked up Friday’s tardiness to needing to find replacement care for her child after the family’s baby sitter didn’t show up. Earlier, Urrutia told her, “The sooner you get here, the sooner we can be done.”
Her repeated absences at the Legislature were the topic of a heated argument at a May 31 gathering of local Democrats, some of whom attempted to force her resignation through a proposed vote.
Asked if she’ll run again in 2018, Dukes cracked a smile and replied, “That is a very strong possibility.”