Rains County, TX — A major shake-up is unfolding in East Texas as two high-ranking Rains County judicial officials prepare to plead guilty to serious misconduct charges stemming from an ongoing corruption investigation.
Sources have confirmed that Justice of the Peace Robert Jenkins Franklin and former County Judge Linda Wallace will appear in court this Friday at 3:00 PM at the Rains County Courthouse to enter official guilty pleas.
The case has gained statewide attention after Franklin was indicted on a series of felony and misdemeanor charges, including witness tampering and official oppression. Among the most alarming allegations: Franklin allegedly told a defendant, “dead men can’t testify” to intimidate them into accepting a plea deal. He is also accused of attempting to force a clerk into signing a false affidavit.
Wallace, who resigned from her position in June 2025, faces a felony charge of witness tampering for her role in allegedly trying to block the same clerk from cooperating in the investigation against Franklin…