HOUSTON—New evidence in the case of a local judge accused of trying to strike up a sexual relationship with a female defendant was presented to the jury Tuesday morning. Harris County Judge Donald Jackson’s own words were used against him in court when prosecutors played approximately an hour’s worth of audio-taped interviews with the judge in which he denied knowing the defendant, Ariana Venegas. Prosecutors aimed to show Jackson tried to strike up a sexual relationship with Venegas in exchange for helping her beat a DWI conviction. Venegas claims Jackson propositioned her in February at a restaurant in Humble, saying he could help if she was interested in dating him. On the tape played in court, Jackson said, "I don’t recall this happening and I don’t recall her in particular. I have no recollection of contacting a defendant and asking her to go to dinner." Jackson even denied recognizing Venegas when shown a photograph. But when pressed during a second phase of the interview, Jackson, who is married, changed his story. He admitted he remembered Venegas, saying he called her on the phone and talked to her about a possible relationship after her case was over. "I told her at some point at the end of this, I might be interested in some other relationship than a professional relationship as a judge," Jackson said on the tape. The defense claims Venegas came on to the judge in an attempt to beat her DWI case. "I was flattered and it was nice and I never should have called that number," Jackson said in the interview. "I just let my guard down one time and did something stupid, but I didn’t have malicious intent." Testimony will resume Tuesday afternoon.
