(July 12, 2007)—Former Falls County Tax Appraisal District official Candace Grams, who was convicted last month of theft by public servant and tampering with evidence, is seeking a new trial.

Grams’ new attorney, Ed Mason of Dallas, filed a new trial motion and notice of appeal Thursday.

A state district court jury deliberated for about ten hours last month before finding Grams guilty on all but one of 320 counts in an alleged scheme to forge checks and change appraisal values.

Jurors sentenced Grams to 10 years in prison on a theft by a public servant charge and five years probation on each of two tampering with evidence charges.

Grams was indicted in July 2006 for theft by a public servant after an investigation determined that signatures had been forged on appraisal district checks.

While she was free on $50,000 bond on that charge, she was named in additional indictments in August 2006 charging 19 counts of tampering with government records and two counts of fabricating physical evidence.

Those indictments stemmed from allegations that appraisal values were changed on several properties and that false documents were filed.

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