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Joe Boeckmann
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This Arkansas-related article is a sprout. |
Joe Boeckmann is a former judge of the Cross County District Court in Arkansas.[1] He joined the court in 2009 and resigned in May 2016. He had been suspended with pay from the court since November 19, 2015, following the release of several charges of ethics violations against him.[2]
Noteworthy events
Misconduct allegations (2015)
On November 17, 2015, the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission made public misconduct allegations against Judge Joe Boeckmann. The allegations accused Boeckmann of mishandling a case involving the sister of a man he had had an intimate relationship with, giving preferential treatment to white, male defendants, and engaging in sexual conduct with some male defendants.[3] Boeckmann also, according to the complaint, allowed unrecorded sentencing, such as cleaning up trash at his home, and took inappropriate photos of defendants. It also accused him of possessing child pornography.[4]
On November 19, Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Howard Brill suspended the judge and announced that a special judge would be appointed to temporarily replace Boeckmann.[2]
Boeckmann's lawyers filed the judge's response with the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission on December 15. In the seven-page document, he "generally and specifically denie[d]" all allegations against him.[5]
Read Boeckmann's response in full here.
On January 19, 2016, the disciplinary panel said that more people had come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Judge Boeckmann. They claimed that Boeckmann offered them reduced sentences and then took or requested to take inappropriate photos.[6] After additional charges surfaced about the judge paying attorneys who regularly appeared before him in court, the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission released an amended statement of allegations.[7]
Read the amended statement in full here.
In May 2016, Boeckmann agreed to resign from the court and never again seek public office instead of fighting the misconduct allegations. Investigators had found thousands of photos of a sexual nature on Boeckmann's computer of defendants that had appeared before the judge. They also found checks from Boeckmann written out to defendants that appeared in the photos. The commission stated that it believed that Boeckmann's behavior dated to the 1980s when he was a county prosecutor. "This is the worst case of judicial misconduct in Arkansas history, in my opinion," said David Sachar, director of the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission. Following his resignation, Boeckmann's attorney declined to comment.[8]
Federal indictment (2016)
In October 2016, Boeckmann was indicted on eight counts of wire fraud, two counts of witness tampering, one count of federal program bribery, and 10 counts of violating the federal Travel Act. The former judge pleaded not guilty to all charges.[9][10]
Guilty plea (2017) and sentencing (2018)
Boeckmann pleaded guilty to two counts of federal charges of wire fraud and witness tampering on October 5, 2017. In exchange, more than 20 felony counts were dismissed. Boeckmann entered the plea before U.S. District Court Judge Kristine Baker.[11]
Judge Baker sentenced Boeckmann to five years in prison, followed by three years supervised release, and a $50,000 fine, on February 21, 2018. According to Arkansas Matters, Baker sentenced Boeckmann to undergo psychosexual evaluation and mental health treatment while in prison.[12]
In a statement, Boeckmann apologized to the court, the people of Cross County, and to his family.[12]
Recent news
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See also
External links
Additional reading
Footnotes
- ↑ Arkansas Judiciary, "Cross County District Court Directory," accessed November 20, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Arkansas Online, "Special judge to be chosen to take over for judge accused of soliciting sex from offenders," November 20, 2015
- ↑ Daily Mail, "Arkansas judge, 69, 'had sexual relationships with male defendants, offered preferential treatment to young white men and paid some to photograph them naked,'" November 17, 2015
- ↑ Yakima Herald, "Judge accused of having sexual relationships with defendants," November 17, 2015
- ↑ Arkansas Online, "Judge denies offering leniency for sex, other allegations," December 16, 2015
- ↑ Trib Live, "Allegations of sexual misconduct against Arkansas judge multiply," January 19, 2016
- ↑ ABA Journal, "New ethics complaint: Judge paid lawyers appearing before him, offered defendant $300 for nude pose," January 21, 2016
- ↑ Arkansas Online, "Sex kicks cited, exit by Arkansas judge is forever," May 10, 2016
- ↑ The Journal, "Ex-Arkansas judge indicted on federal fraud, bribery charges," October 17, 2016
- ↑ ABC News, "The Latest: Ex-Judge Booked Into Jail, in Protective Custody," October 17, 2016
- ↑ The Arkansas Times, "Ex-judge Boeckmann pleads guilty to witness tampering, wire fraud," October 5, 2017
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Arkansas Matters, "Former AR Judge Receives 5 Years in Prison," February 21, 2018
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Arkansas, Western District of Arkansas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Arkansas, Western District of Arkansas
State courts:
Arkansas Supreme Court • Arkansas Court of Appeals • Arkansas Circuit Courts • Arkansas District Courts • Arkansas City Courts
State resources:
Courts in Arkansas • Arkansas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Arkansas
