Judge convicted of bribing federal officer with Bud Light

Jan. 28, 2013: File photo, Bud Light beer is shown in the aisles of Elite Beverages in Indianapolis. Beer lovers across the country have filed $5 million class-action lawsuits accusing Anheuser-Busch of watering down its Budweiser, Michelob and other brands. (AP)

Federal prosecutors say a North Carolina judge has been convicted of bribery after he offered Bud Light and cash to an officer in exchange for text messages from his wife's cellphone because he suspected she was cheating on him.

The U.S. Attorney's office said Friday that a jury deliberated for 33 minutes before finding Superior Court Judge Arnold Ogden Jones II guilty of paying a bribe and other charges.

Prosecutors say Jones asked a Wayne County deputy, who is also a member of an FBI gang task force, to get him copies of the text messages in October 2015, even though the law prevents him from receiving them.

Jones offered “a couple of cases of beer” to the officer but ultimately agreed to hand over $100 instead, according to the indictment.

“The jury’s verdict affirms a bedrock principle of the rule of law,” John Bruce, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, responded.

An attorney for Jones told The News & Observer of Raleigh that his client remains on the November ballot and plans to appeal the verdict.

“He and his family appreciate all the support he has had,” defense attorney Geoff Hulse said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.