Tacoma Judge Michael Hecht Denies Soliciting Young Male Prostitutes, Creeps Out Jury
UPDATE: Hecht has been found guilty. Details after the jump...
Tacoma judge Michael Hecht is accused of paying men for sex.
A Tacoma judge found himself in an unusual spot yesterday: the witness stand. Michael Hecht took the stand in his own defense to deny charges that he solicited four young men for sex.
Prior to the Judge Hecht came the testimony of Joey Hesketh. Hesketh claims that Hecht first picked him up 10 years ago when he was a 14-year-old prostitute working Tacoma's antique row. He says that when rumors of their relationship began circulating after Hecht's election to superior court, the judge threatened to kill him.
In Hecht's favor is the fact that the accusations against him are coming from people who juries are less likely to trust. Working against him, however, are his own comments. Which are probably meant to sound innocent but come off as really, really creepy.
On the witness stand Monday, Hecht said he's not a sex client but simply a grandfatherly type trying to help people. He says he took one accuser back to his law office after hours to offer friendly advice.Ahh yes, the old Helpful Grandpa defense. Skeezing out juries since 1922.
Closing arguments in Hecht's case are scheduled for today. We'll let you know how things turn out.
UPDATE: Hecht's lawyer, Wayne Fricke, says that the male prostitutes are just trying to scam the judge out of money.
Fricke also says that the sexual acts Hecht is accused of committing are impossible due to his long term erectile dysfunction.
UPDATE: A jury found Hecht guilty of patronizing a prostitute, felony harassment, and making death threats.
The Tacoma judge still faces charges from the state's Commission on Judicial Conduct. But we're guessing the prison time is of slightly more pressing concern right now.
6 comment(s)
R Yale says:
Since reading this story, I can honestly say that you have tried and judged the Judge already. This is such biased reporting. Report unbiased, or find another job.
Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 27 2009 @ 4:12PM
KPR says:
Yale, in the comments, claims Hannan has tried and convicted the judge already??
What, based on a 3 paragraph news brief? Either Yale is terribly easy to convince or he thinks other readers of this posting are buffoons.
Assuming the judge is innocent, and his judgment led him to the conclusion that it was a bright idea to pick up a young prostitute and bring him back to his law office After Hours for some small talk and encouraging advice.
Is this the level of personal decision making any member of the public should expect out of a jurist who is empowered to determine the fate of citizens?
If guilty, he should be jailed. He should lose his ability to 'practice' law.
If found not guilty, he should face a civil trial (as would you or I in similar situations) and should be removed from his position on the bench Post Haste!
Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 27 2009 @ 7:17PM
Rainwoman6869 says:
Pierce County has its scandal, Snohomish County is a scandal in waiting. In an election with 5 candidates there is a total of 3 DUIs, 1 Negligent driving, 2 Insurance defense attorneys, and who knows what other nuts floating around in the pool. Check out the Snohomish County judge race with Scott Lord, Scott Peterson, Joe Wilson, David Hulbert, and Rico Tessandore. Can you vote "none of the above?"
Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 27 2009 @ 8:53PM
ajboomer says:
this man has been on paid leave for the better part of this year, this isn't fair. he should be made to repay any money he has been given and immediately jailed. this 1 to 3 months a big joke.
Posted On: Wednesday, Oct. 28 2009 @ 12:11PM
ajboomer says:
this man has been on paid leave for the better part of this year, this isn't fair. he should be made to repay any money he has been given and immediately jailed. this 1 to 3 months a big joke.
Posted On: Wednesday, Oct. 28 2009 @ 12:12PM
holy smoke says:
Paid leave? Who says crime doesn't pay?
Posted On: Wednesday, Oct. 28 2009 @ 1:18PM