A former Dallas County probation officer has been indicted on federal charges of soliciting payments from probationers.
The FBI’s Dallas office announced today that 46 year old Tim Jones is charged with eight counts of soliciting and receiving money from probationers in exchange for granting permission to travel and granting early release from probation. Other charges contend that Jones withheld arrest warrants, lessened community service hours, waived probation requirements, and reduced the balance of probation fees.
The FBI's said the indictment alleges that from January through October 2015 Jones was responsible for defendants who have been referred from field probation offices to the court level.
"Court probation officers are expressly prohibited from accepting payment from probationers for probation fees and other sums owed," the statement said.
Jones faces 5 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Trial is set to begin in December.
