Mills Will Be Tried Here, Camera Will Be Allowed In Courtroom
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Mills Will Be Tried Here, Camera Will Be Allowed In Courtroom
A state district court judge Wednesday rejected a request to move the theft trial of former Downtown Waco, Inc. director Margaret Mills out of Waco and agreed to allow one camera in the courtroom for the trial.
(Pool photo by Rod Aydelotte, Waco Tribune-Herald)
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(September 3, 2008)—State District Judge Matt Johnson ruled Wednesday that the theft trial of former Downtown Waco, Inc. director Margaret Mills will be held in Waco and agreed to allow one video camera in the courtroom to cover the proceedings.

The trial, which was scheduled to begin later this month, was reset for Nov. 3 at the request of prosecutors.

The hearing Wednesday was scheduled after Mills’ attorney filed a motion earlier this summer asking that the trial be moved because of “extensive, excessive and widespread publicity…concerning the alleged crime and the defendant’s alleged connection with it.”

The motion said because of the publicity, “there exists…so great a prejudice against the defendant” that Mills can’t obtain a fair trial in McLennan County.

After hearing testimony from several local residents and a series of representatives of local newspapers and TV and radio stations, Johnson rejected the argument, saying no one is more interested in a fair trial that he is.

Mills, 67, the former longtime director of Downtown Waco, Inc., is scheduled to go on trial in September on felony theft charges in the embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars from the nonprofit organization.

Mills resigned suddenly two years ago after 18 years at the head of the organization.

A $70,000 restitution check was sent to the organization on Mills behalf in September 2006.

Mills is named in an indictment handed up in November 2007 that alleges she took more than $200,000, but investigators think as much as $511,000 was embezzled.

Prosecutors allege she wrote more than 400 checks worth more than $390,000 for personal use and that she used the organization’s bank check card to make more than $18,000 in personal purchases from local retailers from November 2005 through April 2006.

The charge carries possible punishment of five to 99 years in prison and as much as a $10,000 fine.

Mills remains free on $25,000 bond.

Latest Comments

Posted by: B on Sep 28, 2008 at 09:48 PM

I recently came home from being away from my family for 27 months for the same charges - she needs to do the same time - mine was a lot less and the circumstances were different - but I couldn't afford the high priced attorneys - since then I have seen others go scott free because they could afford them - there is no justice for all in this country only for the ones who can pay for it - I am anxiously awaiting to see the results of this trial
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: been there, done that Location: Texas on Sep 15, 2008 at 09:18 PM

If I robbed a 7-11 for $50.00, I'd be in jail for years. But $400,000...man, she needs to think about heading to Mexico...soon! How about a trial there?
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Sam Bam Location: Tx on Sep 5, 2008 at 07:01 AM

Let's see how her self center attitude changes when she is placed behind bars. I don't mean the one she drinks from!
[ Report Abuse ]
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