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The bail bondsman who was a co-defendant in the corruption case against two Caddo Parish judges pleaded guilty this afternoon and agreed to testify for the government.
Larry Williams, 42, admitted to state charges that he bribed both judges.
His case was moved to Caddo District Court as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors, who will use him as a witness in their case against District Judge Michael Walker and Juvenile Court Judge Vernon Claville.
Walker and Claville go on trial next week in U.S. District Court. They are accused of taking bribes in return for favorable sentences and bond reductions in cases before them.
Williams is described by prosecutors as a middleman in arranging favors and delivering bribes.
Walker and Claville deny wrongdoing. Walker's defense attorney, Daryl Gold, said Williams' agreement to cooperate with the government will make no difference in how he presents his case.
Both federal and Caddo prosecutors refused to say why the plea was taken in state court instead of federal court, where Williams was initially charged.
"That is the agreement we worked out with Williams," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Flanagan said after the guilty plea. He would not elaborate.
Williams, who will remain free on bond, will be sentenced after he testifies for the government. The extent of his assistance at the judges' trial -- and any other investigations arising out of the Walker-Claville case -- will be a factor in his sentence.
Williams faces anywhere from probation to up to five years in prison.
Williams pleaded guilty before Judge John Joyce of Monroe, who is on temporary assignment to the Caddo District Court's drug section, which Walker presided over before his indictment. Several Caddo District Court judges have been subpoenaed to testify for the defense in the judges' trial and could not preside over this afternoon's plea or sentence Williams.
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