Arkansas District Judge Joseph Boeckmann faces accusations that he offered young men lighter charges in exchange for sex and other favors.
The Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission released a statement Tuesday, accusing the judge of multiple offenses, including giving lighter punishment in return for sexual and personal favors, giving harsher punishments based on the gender and race of the defendant, and taking pictures of the defendant’s bodies.
Boeckmann is currently in the midst of a judicial investigation, and not a criminal one. The investigation started in August, with reports that the judge offered white male defendants “community service” instead of jail time.
From the Arkansas Times:
“The ‘work’ usually consisted of picking up cans either alongside city roads in Wynne, or actually picking up cans at Boeckmannn’s residence, wherein Boeckmann would photograph the buttocks of the men as they were bending to retrieve the garbage. Multiple male litigants have been photographed by Boeckmann during these ‘community service’ type sentences. Boeckmann maintained these photographs of male litigants’ buttocks in his home for his own personal use. In addition to the illegal sentences, Boeckmann has used his judicial status to form relationships, personal and sexual, with male litigants. Beockmann has engaged in a consistent pattern of seeking out young Caucasian male litigants before Cross County District Court for the purpose of forming personal sexual relations with the litigants, thus creating a self-imposed conflict of interest for himself in his role as Cross County District Court judge.”
The complaint further alleges that he had the defendants wait around the court so they could discuss “substitutionary sentences.” The judge is accused of coercing defendants into having sexual relations with him in return for lighter sentences or even dismissed charges, allegedly specifically targeting white men between the ages of 18-35. He allegedly gave harsher fines and sentences to women and minority groups.
The report includes statements from several of Boeckmann’s victims.
One man, who was in court for a misdemeanor, alleges that he allowed the judge to take photographs of him, both clothed and naked, in return for money. The man also alleges he helped remove pornography from Boeckmann’s computer.
Boeckmann still serves as a judge, and is not currently facing any criminal charges. He is expected to deny the accusations. His term as judge ends in 13 months, and he has not filed for reelection. It is possible that he will resign and decide not to serve again, in which case the judicial charges will be dropped before they reach trial.
Watch a report from WREG-TV in the video below:
Featured image via NPR
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