Prosecutors say Texas lawmaker spent $51K on online psychic


              FILE - In this Thursday, May 26, 2011 file photo, Rep. Dawnna Dukes, right, listens to Rep Senfronia Thompson on the House floor during session in Austin, Texas. Travis County prosecutors say in a court filing that state Rep. Dukes spent more than $51,000 on an online psychic, appeared for work at the Capitol impaired and hid a cellphone from investigators. (Ralph Barrera/ Austin American-Statesman via AP)/Austin American-Statesman via AP, File)
FILE - In this Thursday, May 26, 2011 file photo, Rep. Dawnna Dukes, right, listens to Rep Senfronia Thompson on the House floor during session in Austin, Texas. Travis County prosecutors say in a court filing that state Rep. Dukes spent more than $51,000 on an online psychic, appeared for work at the Capitol impaired and hid a cellphone from investigators. (Ralph Barrera/ Austin American-Statesman via AP)/Austin American-Statesman via AP, File)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A Texas lawmaker spent more than $51,000 on an online psychic, appeared for work at the Capitol apparently impaired by medication and hid a cellphone from investigators, prosecutors said in a court filing this week.

Rep. Dawnna Dukes is due to face misdemeanor corruption charges at an Oct. 16 trial. She is accused of giving a taxpayer-funded raise to a legislative aide to cover gas money for shuttling her daughter back and forth from school.

The Travis County prosecutors' court filing this week is intended to inform Dukes' attorneys of the allegations against her that will be asserted at trial.

Dukes' attorney, Dane Ball, declined to comment on the allegations.

The Travis County district attorney's office alleges in the filing that Dukes paid for the psychic from December 2014 to January 2016, totaling nearly $1,000 a week.

Authorities contend she was noticeably impaired on one occasion while performing legislative duties at the Capitol. She showed up late to a House appropriations committee hearing on March 29 and at one point said, "I know I'm talking a lot. I'm full of morphine and will be headed out of here soon."

She's also accused of giving investigators a different cellphone from the one they were seeking when they served her with a search warrant. In addition, the filing says Dukes was absent for roll call 65 percent of the time during the 2017 legislative regular session, and 36 percent of the time in the special session.

Prosecutors still want to salvage a felony case against the lawmaker, the Austin American-Statesman reports . The Travis County district attorney's office last week placed 13 felony charges against Dukes on hold after a legislative official gave conflicting information about reimbursement vouchers that Dukes is alleged to have falsified in 2013 and 2014 for days she did not travel to the Capitol.

Dukes previously had announced plans to resign, citing yearslong medical concerns. But she reneged in January and was sworn in for her 12th term.

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Information from: Austin American-Statesman, http://www.statesman.com

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