Former Detroit Court Clerk charged with forgery
LEFT: Annette Bates, 56; RIGHT: Charles Fair, 44
DETROIT (WJBK) - A former 36th District Court Clerk has been charged with felony forgery after authorities say she, along with an accomplice, took thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for the dismissal of traffic citations. Her alleged co-conspirator has also been charged.
Annette Bates, 56, and Charles Fair, 44, are each charged with two counts of felony forgery. The Attorney General's Department and the FBI investigated and say they found the duo forged the dismissal of $40,000 in traffic tickets, fines and citations. In exchange for the dismissals, authorities say the pair took about $20,000 in bribes.
Authorities say Fair would funnel the requests for dismissal and Bates, the former court clerk, would dismiss the tickets from record.
Authorities say in some cases, dismissing the tickets allowed drivers with suspended licenses to regain their operator's license.
They are due back in court next week.