LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — Two Lafayette City Court judges say drunken driving plea deals involving a private investigator's alleged bribes cannot be used to file more serious second-offense DWI charges.

The Advocate reports Judges Douglas Saloom and Francie Bouillion made that ruling last week in DWI cases involving bribes allegedly paid by Robert Williamson.

Williamson has pleaded not guilty to federal charges including six counts of bribery.

Five people have pleaded guilty, including three former employees of the district attorney's office.

District Attorney Mike Harson says he'll fight the ruling.

Barry Sallinger represents some of the DWI defendants. He says the judges made it clear that their ruling applies to all pleas involving Williamson.

He argued that the pleas should be quashed because the defendants were not represented by an attorney.

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