Lawyer Luther Jones, a longtime fixture in El Paso politics, took the stand Wednesday and denied all allegations made against him in federal court.

Jones categorically denied attempting to bribe elected officials, using the mail to advance a fraudulent scheme or cheating El Pasoans out of honest government services.

He testified "No," "Never" and "I did not" in response to questions by his defense lawyer, Stephen Peters, concerning the charges he faces.

A federal indictment accuses Jones and former District Clerk Gilbert Sanchez of rigging a digitization contract for the district clerk's office in 2004 to ensure that Altep Inc., a company represented by Jones, would win the bid. It was never awarded.

Both men are charged with one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud and deprivation of honest services.

Each has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.

Jones is expected to continue testifying today in U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvo's court.

He admitted on Wednesday that he gave Sanchez a $750 check to travel to a law seminar in Las Vegas in 2004, but he said there was nothing improper or illegal about it.

"The thought of it being considered criminal never crossed my mind," Jones testified.

Lawyer Martie Jobe, a defense witness, said Altep Inc. hired her and Jones to represent the company in the multimillion-dollar digitization project. She, too, denied that anything illegal took place.


Jobe, a former county commissioner when Jones was county judge, testified that she could not recall an email from Jones suggesting that she help him pay for a trip for Sanchez and Fernando Parra, a former office manager for Sanchez, related to the project.

"I have no memory of this email," Jobe testified.

She confirmed that she wrote a book for businesses that recommended deleting emails that could be used against them in the future.

Jobe testified that she did not want to meet with FBI agents who were investigating the public corruption allegations because she does not trust the FBI.

Jobe said this is because of "the politicalization of the U.S. Justice Department, especially since the Bush administration."

She testified that any campaign contributions to elected officials that she made were never given in exchange for their support for anything.

Jobe was known as Martie Georges when she served as a county commissioner with Jones, who was county judge from 1987 to 1990.

The other commissioners then were Charles Hooten, Orlando Fonseca and Rogelio Sanchez. Fonseca and Sanchez are deceased.

Hooten was among public spectators watching Wednesday's proceedings.

"I tried working with these people (Jones and Jobe) when I was on the Commissioners Court, but I found it difficult to do so," Hooten said during a break.
