Appeals Court lets Odom charge stand BATON ROUGE, LA. (AP) (wrkf) - The 1st Circuit Court of Appeal has revived the case against Bob Odom by allowing one count of filing false public records to stand against the former state agriculture commissioner.

In January 2007, state District Judge Don Johnson dismissed that count after agreeing with the defense that Odom's tax returns are not public records, and therefore could not have been filed falsely.

Prosecutors appealed Johnson's ruling. They argued that the state is not required to prove that Odom's tax returns are public, but that a document with false information was filed with a public office or official, and the false information was known at the time it was submitted.

The 1st Circuit panel reversed Johnson's dismissal of the one count of filing false public records.

The panel, however, upheld Johnson's decision to dismiss six other counts against Odom, including one count each of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Mary Olive Pierson, Odom's attorney, said the former commissioner is "very happy" with the ruling. © Copyright 2009, wrkf