Judge denies lawmaker's bid to drop state's case

ATLANTA (AP) A judge has rejected a request by lawyers for Georgia state Sen. Don Balfour, who sought to have the indictment against the lawmaker dismissed.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Henry Newkirk announced the decision on Monday.

A grand jury indicted Balfour in September on felony charges of making a false certificate, theft by taking and a count of false statement and writing. He is accused of illegally claiming legislative expense pay and double-billing the state and his private employer for some expenses.

The trial in the case is set to begin Dec. 16.

Balfour has been under legal scrutiny for payments that he received for his work in the General Assembly. Defense lawyer William Hill has said his client believes he's being unfairly targeted for inadvertent mistakes.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/12/268697