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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) —
One of two felony indictments against former Texas Gov. Rick Perry was tossed out Friday, giving the Republican presidential candidate a potentially huge legal victory in the face of flagging polling numbers for the 2016 race.
The 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin sided with Perry's pricy legal team, stating in a 96-page ruling that the charge of coercion of a public servant constituted a violation of the former governor's free speech rights.
Perry, who left office in January, was indicted last August on the coercion charge and a separate charge of abuse of official power, which wasn't affected by the ruling.
For now, he'll still have to face the abuse of power charge — which could tie him up in court and eat into valuable on-the-ground campaigning time in the midst of his White House run. But Perry's lead attorney, Tony Buzbee, downplayed the future significance of the case, just as his client has for months, saying it will have "no impact whatsoever" on the campaign.
"One down, one to go," Buzbee said at a Houston news conference. "The court today threw out what we believe to be the greater of the two charges." He added that the abuse of power charge is "hanging by a thread."
BEEKMAN, N.Y. (AP) —
A 26-year-old Texas man has been extradited to upstate New York to face charges for alleged sexual actions committed against a young girl a decade ago.
Christopher Wustrau was arrested last week in his hometown of San Antonio and transported by state police to New York on Wednesday. He was arraigned before Town of Beekman Court and sent to Dutchess County Jail on $100,000 cash bail or $200,000 bond.
Wustrau is charged with first-degree sexual conduct against a child. The charge was brought after a former resident of Beekman reported a sex offense that occurred approximately 10 years ago. An investigation revealed that Wustrau sexually abused the victim when she was between the ages of 7 and 9.
It could not immediately be determined if Wustrau has an attorney.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) —
A man who last winter called 911 to surrender over a 2011 slaying in Corpus Christi has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Terry Lynn Smith of Beaumont pleaded guilty to murder in the plea deal Thursday.
Beaumont police in January arrested Smith after he called, from a halfway house, to claim responsibility for the September 2011 stabbing death of 51-year-old Patricia Duling.
Corpus Christi police say Duling's boyfriend returned home after work and found her body. Investigators say the victim was stabbed more than 80 times.
The 60-year-old Smith, who's had addiction issues, apologized to the victim's family. Smith said he doesn't remember what happened but that it shows what drugs and alcohol can to do.