Charges dropped against another Rains County judge
Posted/updated on: December 11, 2025 at 4:36 am
RAINS COUNTY — The criminal case against Rains County Judge Linda Wallace has been dismissed, according to newly released documents from the Rains County District Clerk’s Office and our news partner KETK.
The dismissal comes after months of developments connected to the investigation and prosecution of Rains County Justice of the Peace Jenkins Franklin. A full timeline of events is below:
MAY 1: Rains County Justice of the Peace Robert Jenkins Franklin was arrested and charged with official oppression and witness tampering. According to a federal lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Rains County Justice of the Peace Robert Jenkins Franklin allegedly threatened a defendant to plead guilty in a case over which Franklin had no jurisdiction.
Franklin was accused of threatening the defendant, saying, “I heard you have a problem with me, boy. You take that deal, boy — or dead men can’t testify.”
The lawsuit claims this threat is part of a wider pattern of misconduct by Franklin that county officials failed to stop, forming the basis of a Monell claim, allowing the defendant to sue local government for constitutional violations.
JULY 2: Rains County Judge Linda Wallace was indicted in connection to Franklin’s case, with allegations saying Wallace pressured a prospective witness, an employee she supervised, with the intent to influence the witness to withhold testimony.
NOV. 21: Charges against Franklin were dismissed in his case by Van Zandt District Attorney Tonda Curry.
Franklin’s indictment will be dropped once he completes a year of deferred adjudication.
Curry, who is assigned to both cases, said Wallace had rejected a plea deal and that her trial was scheduled for Dec. 8.
DEC. 5: Wallace’s case was dropped, and her charges were dismissed by Curry.
Rains County court documents released on Sunday afternoon stated, “Having come on for consideration the motion of the State to dismiss this cause of action, the court hereby grants said motion and the cause is hereby dismissed.”
Officials contacted by KETK said they had no information about the reason for the dismissal or whether additional action is expected, but that Wallace will remain resigned from her judge position following her indictment.
