A former Arkansas judge confessed Thursday to giving lighter sentences to men convicted of minor crimes in return for nude photographs and sexual favors.
Joseph Boeckmann, 71, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and witness tampering, WNCN reported. The court agreed to drop the other 19 charges that had been brought against him, which amounted to $2.5 million in fines and up to 260 years in prison, according to the Washington Post.
While working as a judge, Boeckmann would reportedly offer men “community service” — watching men pick up bottles and cans while he took photos — instead of making them pay court fines. Dozens of men came forward to accuse the judge of misconduct, with some of the victims alleging that they posed nude for photos in exchange for money to pay their fines.
Boeckmann engaged in fraud by “corruptly using his official position as an Arkansas district judge to obtain personal services, sexual contact and the opportunity to view and to photograph in compromising positions,” prosecuting attorneys said.
Boeckmann will be sentenced in 2018.
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