DALLAS (AP) — A Texas appeals court has dismissed mortgage fraud charges against an heir to a Dallas oil fortune, citing prosecutorial misconduct by a former Dallas County District attorney.
The Dallas Morning News reports that the 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas ruled last week that a trial court judge in 2013 correctly dismissed the cases against Al Hill III. The court ruled that Hill can’t be reindicted.
Hill alleged that District Attorney Craig Watkins pursued the mortgage fraud charges against him in order to gain favor with lawyer Lisa Blue, who was in a legal battle with Hill over attorney fees.
Watkins and Blue have denied the allegations, but Justice David J. Schneck wrote an opinion this month that questioned activity in the case.