The KTXS story states BrittonвЂ™s office is under state and federal investigation.Д«ritton would neither confirm nor deny if he is aware of an investigation, but said, вЂњIt would not surprise me if there was a criminal investigation into the allegation of missing money.вЂќ вЂњIt is ridiculous to suggest that I would accept money in exchange for a dismissal in a criminal case,вЂќ Britton said. The stories quote sources who maintain Britton has taken вЂњoff-the-booksвЂќ donations from some defendants in misdemeanor cases who paid money to have their cases dismissed. The opinion is pending.Д«ritton, while clearly aware of the Observer and KTXS stories, declined to discuss specific allegations in the stories.

In June, Brown County Auditor Jennifer Robison sought an opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken PaxtonвЂ™s office about the legality of the pre-trial diversion program. The Observer published the story in its December edition, followed closely by a story broadcast KTXS-TV and on its website.

That was an вЂњoff-the-cuffвЂќ comment that should not be interpreted that heвЂ™s going to quit, Britton said when asked Thursday, making his first comments to the media after the stories were published. The stories quote sources who say Britton has been involved in corruption and bribery in the way his office operated a pre-trial diversion program for first-time misdemeanor defendants.Д«ritton - who begins his fifth term in January - hinted to the Texas Observer that his time in office might end soon.

Brown County Attorney Shane Britton said he вЂњabsolutelyвЂќ has no plans to resign from office after two highly critical stories about him were published recently in the Texas Observer monthly magazine and on KTXS-TV.

Texas pretrial diversion costs