By KOMO Staff
PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. -- A local judge accused of harassing and patronizing a prostitute has been found guilty of violating the Code of Judicial Conduct by the state Commission on the Judicial Conduct, according to a statement of charges released Wednesday.
The commission found Pierce County Superior Court Judge Michael Hecht engaged in illegal or otherwise indecorous and inappropriate behavior, namely patronizing prostitutes, harassing or threatening persons whom he believed were discussing his interactions with and payment of prostitutes, using racist language in public conversation and engaging in unfair campaign conduct.
The commission has charged the judge with paying a male prostitute to perform sexual acts on numerous occasions over a five-year period beginning in 1997, when the prostitute was still a minor. Hecht is also charged with patronizing two other male prostitutes from 2000 and 2002, and from 2007 to 2008. In all three cases, the sexual activities took place in Hecht's office, the commission said. The commission said that in 1996, Hecht provided legal services in exchanges for sexual activity with a male client.Hecht is also charged with using the "N" word in a conversation in 2007, as well as stealing his opponent's campaign signs during the 2008 judicial campaign. Hecht has 21 days to file a written response to the charges, the commission said. A lack of response will be interpreted as an admission of guilt.
The commission, which works to protect the integrity of the judicial process, can recommend the suspension of a judge to the Supreme Court. Last month Hecht, 58, temporarily stepped down from the bench after pleading not guilty to felony charges. Prosecutors said Hecht threatened to kill a 24-year-old man, whom Hecht had paid for sex years ago, in Tacoma on Aug. 30, shortly after he was elected to the $148,000-a-year job. Hecht also paid a 20-year-old man for sex on numerous occasions, prosecutors said.
But Hecht last month told KOMO News all the allegations are simply not true."Looking forward to being vindicated. I'm leaving it the hands of my consul and I think a lot of facts will come," he said.The presiding judge for the county said Hecht is cooperating with authorities, and voluntarily decided to take a leave."We are very respectful of the fact that there's an election process that put him in this position. At the same time we are also concerned about the appearance here and the integrity of the court. And that's why he stepped away at this time and we agreed," said Presiding Pierce County Judge Bryan Choshcoff.
Hecht had only been hearing civil cases since he became a judge. He was to see out the remainder of the cases currently before him.
Hecht's trial is scheduled to start on June 9.
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