Judge Resigns After Sentenced To Prison For Federal Tax Charge

On Friday, a state District Court judge resigned two days after he was sentenced to prison for a misdemeanor federal tax charge.

District Court Judge Garey Ballance, 35, pleaded guilty in April to a federal misdemeanor charge of failing to file an income tax return in 2000.

Ballance was sentenced Wednesday to nine months in prison and fined $5,000. He has until Jan. 2 to turn himself in to prison authorities.

He was not required to resign by law, although the state's Judicial Standards Commission was investigating the case.

Ballance's court district included Warren, Franklin, Vance and Granville counties.