Judge Sifts Through Bisd Pleas; Might Unseal Next Week

A federal judge could decide next week whether to unseal plea agreements of some or all of six former Beaumont school district employees prosecuted for fraud and theft, despite defense and government attorneys' concerns that releasing the documents could jeopardize the defendants' safety. Diego Ibarguen, attorney for the Hearst Corporation, The Enterprise's parent company, argued the automatic sealing of plea agreements was not only inconsistent with the court's published rules but also violates constitutional rights of access to court proceedings and records.