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Saturday, February 22, 1997

Nixon apologizes, says he'll stay in Senate

By JUAN B. ELIZONDO Jr. Associated Press Writer

CARTHAGE, Texas (AP) - State Sen. Drew Nixon apologized to his family, voters and the Texas Senate on Friday for an incident in which he is accused of soliciting sex from an undercover Austin police woman.

"My actions three nights ago are inexcusable. I put myself in circumstances that were inappropriate for anyone, let alone a husband and an elected official of Texas. There are no excuses," he said.

Nixon, R-Carthage, admitted talking with police officer Christine Shelton on Tuesday night. He would neither confirm nor deny propositioning her.

Nixon said he won't resign the Senate seat he won last November.

"I was elected to serve the 3rd Senatorial District, and I will return to Austin to do that," he said.

The lawmaker's comments came during a news conference at his accounting office in his East Texas hometown.

Appearing with him was his wife of nine months, Cheryl Nixon, 23. Crying at times, Mrs. Nixon said she has forgiven her husband but made it clear she won't stand for such action again.

"Drew knows that I believe his behavior that evening was irresponsible. I will not stand to be part of something like this ever again. I have fully accepted his apology," she said.

Nixon also admitted that he had a loaded, 9-mm handgun in his car when arrested.

"Being from East Texas, we sort of do that (gun). But it shouldn't have been there," he said.

Nixon isn't licensed to carry a concealed handgun and could face a charge of illegally carrying a firearm, according to the Austin Police Department.

Nixon, who spent the night in jail after his arrest, faces a Class B misdemeanor charge of prostitution. The charge carries a penalty of up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Nixon is due in Travis County District Court on March 19.

The second-term lawmaker has been absent from the Capitol since his Wednesday morning release.

According to Officer Shelton, Nixon agreed to pay her $35 to perform oral sex. She was standing outside a small church in South Austin when Nixon stopped along the curb in his personal car to talk to Ms. Shelton, police said.

In 1993, Nixon pleaded no contest to a firearms misdemeanor after being stopped by police in East Dallas with three known prostitutes in his car and a loaded .357-caliber handgun.

At the time, he said he didn't know the women were prostitutes. He was never charged with a prostitution-related crime in that incident.

Nixon said he expected to return to Austin next week. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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