ST. LOUIS - A man who turned a misdemeanor traffic violation into a felony by trying to bribe a court clerk with beer was sentenced to probation. LaRon Williams, 30, was charged with driving without a license, a misdemeanor, until he showed up at Verita Darden's house on June 13 with a six-pack of Bud Select and urged her to "lose his case," court papers state.
He allegedly was accompanied by Rebecca Byrket, a St. Louis County Court reporter. Charges against her are pending.
St. Louis City Circuit Clerk Mariano Favazza asked Judge Margaret Neil to send a strong message about bribery in her sentence during Wednesday's plea hearing. The prosecution asked for four years in prison plus 120 days of shock time. Instead, Williams received a year of probation and a suspended sentence by pleading guilty.
Follow @@joeharris_stl
Read the Top 8
Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
Additional Reads
-
Top 8 today September 19, 2023 -
-
Top 8 today September 13, 2023
-
