Federal Judge Gets 3 Years in Sex Abuse Case

A Texas judge was sentenced yesterday to 33 months in prison for lying to investigators in the first sex abuse case ever against a sitting federal judge, the AP reports. Samuel Kent pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in February; five sex-crimes charges related to two female employees were dismissed. “Your wrongful conduct is a huge black X, a smear on the legal profession, a stain on the judicial system itself,” said the presiding judge.

Kent’s former case manager and a secretary said they came to work scared Kent might find them, and would avoid answering phones to keep away from him; one said she was abused for 7 years. Kent’s lawyer says he has retired, allowing him to keep receiving his salary; House Judiciary Committee leaders are calling for his resignation, which would mean getting nothing. (More crime stories.)