Federal judge in Texas pleads not guilty to new allegations of sex abuse

[WhiteTara]

Source: boston globe

HOUSTON - A federal judge charged with fondling a court employee and trying to force her into a sexual act pleaded not guilty yesterday to new allegations brought by another former employee. Discuss

US District Judge Samuel Kent entered his plea a day after a federal grand jury added three new charges to the indictment it issued in August that accuses him of making unwanted sexual advances toward his former court case manager.

The new charges - aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact, and obstruction of justice - allege Kent tried to force a second female court employee into a sexual act and lied about it to investigators.

"The charges are not true," Dick DeGuerin, Kent's attorney, said after the hearing, adding he was limited in what he could say because of a gag order in the case. Prosecutors declined to comment.

Kent, the first federal judge charged with sex crimes, said very little during yesterday's hearing, in stark contrast to his first arraignment in September when he was very vocal and vowed to bring a "horde of witnesses" in his defense.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/01/08/federal_judge_in_texas_pleads_not_guilty_to_new_allegations_of_sex_abuse/

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I'm betting he's a publican. I can't remember is judges are appointed or elected in Texas.

[truthisfreedom]

1. A gag order? I'm gagging already.

Guilty, obviously.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Texas Justice on Texas Justice

Suits me fine. Let the law apply to everyone.

I know of a (formerly) young man who was convicted of statutory rape of a 15 year old in Texas. He shouldn't have done it, but he did. Ten years. Rapists and convicts with histories of manslaughter have left prison before his turn so far. And he'll be registered as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

If there is enough evidence to convict this Texas federal judge, let him see how the other side lives -- in prison.

[jberryhill]

3. All federal judges are appointed

The state is irrelevant. Judge Kent was nominated by George H.W. Bush.