WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - A federal judge ordered the mother of former New Roads Mayor Tommy Nelson to leave his bribery trial today, after she was accused of intimidating prosecutors' star witness.

Judge Ralph Tyson told Rosetta Nelson he'd received a complaint before court resumed after lunch that she had confronted William Myles, who was posing as a corrupt businessman for the FBI during the investigation of her son.

Only News 2 was at the courthouse when Nelson walked out of federal court, and told reporter Chris Nakamoto she'd done nothing wrong.

"I didn't tell Mr. Myles anything," she said. "I said he normally keeps recording devices on him. I said play the recording if I said something, play what I said."

Judge Tyson had told Nelson he considered ordering her arrested, and instead chose to bar her from attending the rest of the hearings.

Tommy Nelson is facing bribery charges after prosecutors said he took money from Myles during a sting operation called "Cifer 5000", which also lead to indictments against other local public officials. Jurors heard more testimony today about audio recordings made by Myles and the FBI involving Nelson.

Testimony will resume tomorrow.