Judge Cops Plea To Elude Sex Crime Charges

A federal judge accused of gropping two female court employees as he tried to force himself on the women and have them perform sex acts pleaded guilty on Monday to obstruction of justice in exchange for sex-related charges being dropped.

U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent, the first federal judge charged with a sex crime, retired Monday, avoiding possible impeachment by Congress.

Kent's guilty plea came as jury selection in his trial was to begin.

The jurist, who once shouted in court that he would bring "hordes of witnesses" in his defense, spoke barely above a whisper as he pleaded guilty to lying to a judicial committee investigating the sex-related charges.

"Judge Kent believes this compromise settlement was in the best interests of all involved," his lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, said in a statement. "A trial would have been embarrassing and difficult for all involved."

Kent, 59, had been facing six charges - five related to federal sex crimes and the obstruction charge, a felony that alone carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Kent had vigorously maintained his innocence. DeGuerin had said the judge's conduct with the two women was mutual and consensual.

If he had been convicted of the most serious federal sex crimes charges, Kent could have received a sentence of up to life in prison.

Kent, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, has been on the bench for nearly 19 years. Federal judges are appointed for life and can only be forcibly removed through impeachment by Congress.

Prosecutors had said they would present evidence showing there was nothing consensual about what Kent did with the two women, Cathy McBroom, his former case manager, and the judge's former secretary.

The Associated Press does not normally name alleged victims of sexual abuse, but McBroom's attorney and her family have used her name in publicly discussing the case.

Both women were in the courtroom as Kent entered his guilty plea.

Authorities first investigated Kent after McBroom filed a complaint against him in May 2007 and the Judicial Council of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals began a probe.

McBroom accused Kent of harassing her over a four-year period, culminating in March 2007, when she said the judge pulled up her blouse and bra and tried to escalate contact until they were interrupted.

The judicial council suspended Kent in September 2007 for four months with pay but didn't detail the allegations against him. It also transferred him to Houston, 50 miles northwest of Galveston, where he had worked since being appointed in 1990.

A Justice Department investigation of McBroom's claims led to Kent's indictment in August on three federal sex charges.

Last month, prosecutors added two more sex charges and the obstruction charge, accusing Kent of trying to engage his former secretary in a sex act and then lying about it to the judicial council.

DeGuerin had said Kent and his secretary were involved in a longtime affair and he didn't reveal it to the judicial council because he was being a "gentleman."

The lawyer also told the presiding judge that Kent was taking medication for depression and anxiety as well as diabetes and was under the care of both a psychiatrist and a psychologist.

[questionstatus]

BUSINESS AS USUAL. There is one code for the "cattle" that are traded/run through the system, and a totally different one for the pharisaic thugs--police, judges, etc. They get a "compassionate" deal every time. In general, our legal system is run by sexually sick sociopaths (eg, research shows that worldwide most state sponsored torture is carried out by police, whose sociopathic tendencies are well known within the psychological community). Although we should support utilizing technology to deprive freedom utilizing home detention in all cases where the person poses no clear physical threat to the public (rather than utilizing what are essentially rape facilities with built-in death penalty via HIV), the penalties for adhering to any code of silence and/or abuse of power should merit the most extreme sentences.

[renonv5]

I think the real problem with this freak is he probably felt he had a right to do this because he was a judge and above the law. He got caught and weaseled his way out like the slime he is. It is the same mentality that all elected officials in government have and its a huge problem here in our country.

[waitn2ctruth]

Kent's wasn't the only crime here. The prosecutor that took the deal committed a crime against the people. He should be fired as not deserving of the people's trust. Who was that slime?

[hatesthecolt]

nevermind he was married at the time..oh that''s right that''s not important to you peter-puffers

Posted by rudedogrulz

Hey Mr. Prude... you're absolutely right I don't care what two consensual adults do. That's called adultery and it's grounds for divorce (not conviction) and is between him and his wife; if she can live with it, I can to. I do care if someone sticks his hand down a woman's pants if she is not interested. That's called assault, it's criminal, it's grounds for arrest and there's a major effing difference that appears to be beyond your ability to comprehend.

[harbinger09]

A sexxx addict. Obviously. And a judge--inexcusable. Hope his attempts were only to his employees and that offenders were not offered the choice of either reduced sentences or dismissals if they put out. As was the case of Judge Lewis, in Terre Haute, IN (found guilty and given YEARS in prison)

[dink217]

Men and Women in positions of authority have to be very careful, they can be pulled into trouble very easy because of their ego. I was the President of a company until I retired and believe me you have no idea how easy it is to fall if you are not careful. The best solution is to do what I did marry a Model then you won't be so tempted. HaHa By the way I was in the garment business so you can imagine the temptation .

[waitn2ctruth]

The quotes I expected to see in this article aren't there, why not? I would like to know exactly which prosecutor failed in his/her service to protect the people. What do they have to say to try and explain away their failure to bring this scum to account for his actions? It chaps ones' hide to know this "person" can avoid being labelled a ***-offender AND get to retire with his cushy government supplied pension. ARRGGHHH!! (goes and looks for something to tear up).

[brianbwb-2009]

"A trial would have been embarrassing and difficult for all involved."

The same is true for all involved.

Is this pervert now setting a precedent where people caught committing a crime can cop pleas and have the main charges dropped from fear of embarrassment?

There are many people who were caught in possession of marijuana, who weren't allowed to make such an excuse, and they didn't harm anyone.

[truth_police]

This story discloses the depth and breadth of the corruption in the Criminal Legal Justice System. NOT because of the criminal sexual behavior this judge is guilty of, but because of what this guilty well-connected judge will NOT be convicted of. This judge got a windfall gift from the prosecutor, who is 'pretending' to prosecute this case. The judge 'hit pay dirt,' struck a gold mine with this prosecutor. The judge got ALL of the core *** crimes obliterated in exchange for a guilty plea to a non-*** crime, which he says he is doing solely as a humanitarian gesture, to spare the victims the trauma of a trial. What a sweet, compassionate man. He gets to retire with his full pension, instead of being forcibly removed and losing his pension rights. What a sweetheart deal this was. A Classic example of the totally corrupt two-tier system of criminal justice in this country. Criminal Defense attorneys never, ever, ever see such accommodating prosecutors, unless their client happens to be well-connected.

[hatesthecolt]

DeGuerin had said Kent and his secretary were involved in a longtime affair and he didn't reveal it to the judicial council because he was being a "gentleman."

This is a federal judge and an officer of the court and he doesn't understand being under oath??? What a CROCK.