Former state Rep. Terri Hodge has been released from federal prison and is now serving the remainder of her one-year sentence in a Hutchins halfway house.
Hodge landed at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport this afternoon. She'll was then driven to the halfway house by friends.
"We're happy she's coming home," said former state Rep. Harryette Ehrhardt, D-Dallas. "She's very resilient. I'm sure she's gong to be fine."
Last year Hodge pled guilty to income tax evasion and was sentence to one year in prison by U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn.
Hodge had been serving her time in the federal prison in Lexington, Kentucky. She is set to be released June 20, according to prison officials.
The longtime Democratic lawmaker was ensnarled in the federal investigation into corrupt housing deals at Dallas City Hall. Hodge accepted reduced rent payments from developer Brian Potashnik, as well as a carpet for her a home she owned in Dallas.
The primary target of the investigation, former council member Don Hill, is serving an 18-year sentence after being convicted on bribery and extortion charges.
Hodge will serve a couple of months at the Volunteer of America facility in Hutchins. Then she will begin the task of readjusting to life after prison and away from politics.
As a legislator, Hodge's passion was helping ex-offenders get acclimated to life outside of prison.
"Her life was her district. It's going to be tough to give that up," Ehrhardt said. "But we're hoping Terri will be able to use her skills to make other contributions."
The district Hodge once led is now being represented by Democrat Eric Johnson.
Source: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/04/former-state-rep-terri-hodge-r.html
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