TEXAS LEGISLATOR CONVICTION OVERTURNED

  

A judge on Monday overturned the misdemeanor conviction of state Rep. Ron Reynolds after the only African-American juror in his trial said she had been unduly influenced by outside information.

A Montgomery County jury on Friday had convicted Reynolds of six counts of misdemeanor solicitation of professional employment - a lesser charge than the felony barratry charge he faced. Reynolds, a Missouri City Democrat, was re-elected to his House seat on Tuesday.

State District Judge Lisa Michalk, however, threw out the conviction after the juror said she had been told, prior to the verdict, about plea deals accepted by other attorneys accused in the case. The person who provided this information was not identified.

The 11 other jurors said that information came after the guilty verdict, before deliberations on punishment.

The judge rescheduled the trial for March 30.

A new trial again opens Reynolds to a possible felony conviction.