Former Texas Mayor Extorted Bribes, Feds Say

PLANO, Texas (CN) - A federal grand jury indicted the former mayor of Melissa, Texas, for his role in a bribery scheme.

David Dorman, 66, of Melissa, was charged with federal extortion in Plano on Wednesday.

Prosecutors say that, as mayor in 2007, Dorman solicited a $70,000 bribe from John Christie who wanted Melissa to annex a tract of land from neighboring McKinney, Texas, so that Christie could develop and sell the land to others.

Christi, 65, of Frisco, was charged with misprison of a felony on Wednesday.

"Based on a letter from Dorman, the cities of Melissa and McKinney approved the annexation and in exchange, Christie made one $10,000 cash payment and two $10,000 payments by check to Dorman," prosecutors said in a statement Thursday.

Dorman's attorney, Barry Sorrels with Sorrels Udashen of Dallas, says his client will plead not guilty and will "vigorously" fight the charge.

"We are looking forward to our day in court and our constitutionally guaranteed right to have a jury hear our side of the story," Sorrels said Thursday. "Until then, it's important to reserve judgment and keep an open mind until all of the facts come out through the legal process."

Dorman faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and Christie faces up to three years.

Melissa city manager Jason Little told the Dallas Morning News that city officials are cooperating fully with the FBI. He said the property is approximately 23 acres of undeveloped land at the corner of State Highway 5 and State Highway 121 that had been in McKinney's extraterritorial jurisdiction before it was annexed.

Dorman was not re-elected in May 2009. Reed Greer is the current mayor of Melissa.

Sorrels says the city's population tripled under Dorman's term, preparing the town for a "future of growth and prosperity."

Melissa is located approximated 30 miles northeast of Dallas.

Follow @davejourno

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