Bad Ideas, Sex Scandals, State Judges

Judge Resigns After Thousands Of Photos Of Nude Defendants Are Found On His Computer

Wow... The judge was given notice to "not destroy [or] otherwise dispose of [his] paddle."

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Judge Joe Boeckmann (Photo via KARK 4 News)

Judge Joe Boeckmann (Photo via KARK 4 News)

We’ve previously covered judges who have found themselves embroiled in scandals having to do with nude photos, but those scandals were quite tame, really, having involved pictures of jurists “engaging in bondage, playing with sex toys, and performing oral sex.” These nude photo scandals have never involved allegations of judges handing out lighter criminal sentences in exchange for defendants performing “community service” at their homes until recently.

What happens when you’re accused of using your authority over defendants to receive personal and sexual favors, and investigators find your alleged stash of nudie pics?

Yesterday, Judge Joseph Boeckmann of Cross County District Court in Arkansas resigned in disgrace after more than 4,000 pictures of nude defendants were discovered on his home computer in an ethics investigation. In late 2015, Boeckmann was suspended with pay following the onset of the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission’s ethics inquisition against him. Boeckmann was accused of giving at least a dozen young men lighter sentences in exchange for sexual favors.

NBC News has some additional details on Boeckmann’s alleged misdeeds:

Boeckmann’s resignation came after the commission said in a May 5 letter to his lawyer that it was in the process of recovering as many as 4,500 photos.

“They all depict young men, many naked who are in various poses inside the judge’s home and outside in his yard,” the letter states, adding that many of the men had received checks from the judge and had appeared before him as defendants.

“There are numerous photos of naked young men bending over after an apparent paddling,” the letter reads. “Please accept this as notice to not destroy [or] otherwise dispose of this paddle.”

Thus far, no criminal charges have been filed against Boeckmann, but perhaps this paddle will be used to dole out the retributive justice that he seems to deserve.

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Arkansas Judge Resigns After Thousands of Nude Photos of Defendants Found [NBC News]

Earlier: You Have To See The Shocking Allegations Against This Judge

Staci Zaretsky is an editor at Above the Law. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments. Follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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