Former Pa. judge sentenced after stealing cocaine from criminal trials
PITTSBURGH -- A retired judge was sentenced Monday morning after pleading guilty to taking cocaine from criminal trials, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
Paul Pozonsky was sentenced to 30 days to 23 1/2 months in jail. His lawyer will ask for release after 30 days for good behavior. According to the station, Pozonsky will turn himself in later today.
Pozonsky lost his pension and health benefits as of May, and he will serve two years of probation after his release.
He told the judge, "I apologize to this court, to the bench, the legal community, and the citizens of Washington County. My misconduct was inexcusable."
In March, he pleaded guilty to obstruction of the administration of justice, theft and misapplication of publicly entrusted properties, both second-degree misdemeanors.
Prosecutors said he had police bring cocaine evidence to his chambers, and then the evidence either disappeared or was replaced with baking soda.
One of the conditions of his sentence is to pay back the $15,000 in crime lab costs associated with his case.