Arkansas District Court Judge Joseph Boeckmann is facing serious misconduct allegations:
State judicial regulators unveiled today a shocking series of ethical charges against Cross County District Judge Joseph Boeckmann of Wynne. They detail years of alleged trading of preferential court treatment in return for personal work and sexual favors from young men and an allegation that he had child pornography on a home computer.
The judge is alleged to have sentenced young men to community service, which conveniently took place at his own home:
The complaint says he focused on men aged 18-35. He'd allow them to linger after court and receive instructions on where "substitutionary sentences" could be conducted. He would contact them by etlephone and then request them to pick up requirements at his home or office. When they arrived, he solicited sexual relations in return for reductions or dismissals of sentences The complaint says this activity dated back to 2009, when he took the bench.
The complaint details individual cases, with victims identified by initials. One man charged with a misdemeanor said he allowed Boeckmann to photograph him clothed and unclothed for money. Additionally, he said he helped removed pornographic images from the judge's computer.
Incredibly, as the Arkansas Times notes, the Judge Boeckmann cannot be suspended without the Arkansas Supreme Court stepping in:
Under the rules, even with such serious allegations, the disciplinary agency may not suspend the judge. In cases such as these, however, if a judge does not agree to discontinue presiding in the face of such charges, the agency could seek an extraordinary order from the state Supreme Court suspending the judge during pendency of the complaint. David Sachar, executive director of the Commission, said he has not ruled that out in this case.
Bank records show Judge Boeckmann paid attorneys, law enforcement officials, even court fines on behalf of some of the complainants. It is amazing this misconduct wasn’t brought to light years ago.