San Antonio lawyer bribed Bexar judge

San Antonio attorney Al Acevedo, Jr, right, and his attorney Frank Perez, leave the U.S. Federal Courthouse after Acevedo plead guilty on charges of bribing a state district judge, Monday, March 17, 2014. San Antonio attorney Al Acevedo, Jr, right, and his attorney Frank Perez, leave the U.S. Federal Courthouse after Acevedo plead guilty on charges of bribing a state district judge, Monday, March 17, 2014. Photo: Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close San Antonio lawyer bribed Bexar judge 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio lawyer pleaded guilty Monday to bribing a state district judge, admitting that he gave the jurist cash, paid for repairs on his personal vehicles and even selling one of his Mercedes for him, all in exchange for favorable rulings on cases.

Newly unsealed documents in the case of Alberto “Al” Acevedo Jr., 60, say he bribed then-144th District Judge Angus McGinty.

Standing before U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez, Acevedo became the first person to publicly admit he had been caught in an FBI investigation into suspected corruption at the Bexar County Courthouse and elsewhere.

Acevedo's plea deal said he gave cash, services or other things of value totaling more than $6,655 to McGinty, who resigned Feb. 14 amid the investigation.

“The things of value included cash, car repairs, the sale of a vehicle belonging to Judge McGinty, the registration of a vehicle purchased by Judge McGinty, fuel, and a car wash,” Acevedo's plea deal states. “In exchange for these bribes, Judge McGinty provided favorable judicial rulings which benefited me and my clients. Judge McGinty provided these favorable judicial rulings as requested, and as opportunities arose. These favorable rulings included leniency at sentencing and less restrictive conditions of release."

Three cases are cited as being rigged, including a DWI defendant whose sentence was changed in September by McGinty from three years in prison to four years of probation.

The maximum penalty for bribery is 10 years in prison, but Acevedo's plea agreement shows he is likely to get less than that because prosecutors intend on giving him credit for taking responsibility.

Read ExpressNews.com or Tuesday's print edition of the Express-News for more details.