Texas mayor barred from his city

A Texas mayor can't set foot in the small city he leads until a criminal case against him is over, but he still plans to run it.

Bartlett Mayor Bobby Hill, 61, was arrested last week and accused of stealing money and services from his 1,500-person city, about 53 miles (85 kilometers) northeast of Austin. State District Judge Ken Anderson ruled Monday that until the case is over, Hill must live outside city limits.

The mayor's job is only a part-time position, and Hill can still conduct city business by phone and do paperwork at home.

Hill is accused of writing nearly $9,000 (Ђ7,500) in personal checks to the city of Bartlett for cash and for his personal utility bills, then instructing a city secretary to falsify the books and not deposit the checks until he told her otherwise.

According to two complaints, he never did. He faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted on a charge of theft by a public servant and theft of service, AP reports.

A. A.