Indictment against Lucio dismissed

Presiding Judge Manuel Bañales dismissed an indictment against state Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville) on a corruption charge related to the alleged abuse of prisoners at federal detention centers within the South Texas county.

Lucio was charged with profiting from his public office by accepting honoraria from multiple prison management companies. However, Bañales dismissed the indictment because it did not address a “culpable mental state,” according to The Associated Press.

Willacy County District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra attempted to show a financial link between Lucio and the number of prisoners at the facilities, but Lucio’s attorney argued that it wasn’t a reasonable charge because it didn’t prove that the state senator knew what was going on or was attempting to exploit the relationship.

“You can’t commit a crime unless you know you’re doing something wrong,” said Michael Cowen, Lucio’s attorney.

Motions to dismiss the indictments against other officials in the case, including Vice President Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, are still pending and could be resolved later Monday.