MANUEL BARRAZA'S LAW CAREER AT STAKE

EL PASO -- Manuel Barraza got little attention during the three months he
presided over a state drug court. Now he is getting more publicity than he
ever wanted by becoming the first El Paso judge in 14 years to stand trial
on criminal charges.

Federal prosecutors allege that Barraza attempted to trade judicial favors
for sex and money.

Countless lawyers and a curious citizenry streamed in and out of the
courtroom all last week to watch as the government presented its evidence
against Barraza, 54. Prosecutors will resume their case Monday.

The salacious charges and testimony -- one witness said Barraza could have
"a buffet" of women -- may wreck Barraza's career. A conviction could send
him to prison and cost him his law license.

El Paso last saw a judge on trial in 1995.

In that case, retired state district judge Enrique "Henry" Pena,
Magistrate Scott Segall and defense lawyer Gary Hill were indicted on
federal racketeering, extortion and bribery charges. Jurors acquitted them
all.

Barraza, sworn in last January and arrested April, is charged with
"collaborating" with four women to corrupt justice in a drug case.

So far, jurors have heard from two witnesses and have seen and heard 12
recordings of Barraza and one woman.

Those in the courtroom have also:

- - Heard U.S. District Court Judge Frank Montalvo joke about various
things, including his picture in the media: "If you read the El Paso
Times, I guess you've seen my sketch. As you can see, I'm much better
looking than that sketch."

- - Seen Montalvo halt testimony to chastise a television sketch artist for
starting to draw pictures of the jurors. "Bring him here. Who do you work
for?" Montalvo asked.

Montalvo then confiscated the incomplete drawing, which consisted of 12
circles.

- - Watched as Barraza showed a box of lingerie to two television reporters.
"This is what they tried to entice me with. It would entice you, but it
didn't me," Barraza joked.

The next day, Montalvo threatened to revoke Barraza's bond because of the
lingerie episode.

Montalvo said he expected the trial to last until early next week. Barraza
faces three charges of wire fraud and one charge of lying to a federal
agent.

So far, prosecutors have relied on audio and video recordings to try to
show that Barraza initiated a scheme in December 2008 to help Diana Rivas
Valencia, a former client of his, who was arrested on suspicion of having
two kilos of cocaine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio Franco told jurors that Barraza sought
illicit pleasures from his judgeship.

"He wants money and he wants sex with multiple women. Not just with Mrs.
Rivas, but with multiple women," Franco said.

Barraza's defense lawyers used the same recordings to say the FBI
manipulated all of the discussions between Barraza and a key prosecution
witness, Sarai Valencia. Valencia, a 24-year-old with a record for
prostitution, is Rivas Valencia's sister.

"The people who concocted this scheme and put into place are trying to
save themselves, to protect themselves," said Mervyn Mosbacker, Barraza's
lead attorney. "Mr. Barraza never agrees to take a bribe. When he gets
asked -- he always says the money is for (an) attorney."