Suffolk County District Judge Robert Cicale is facing up to 15 years in prison after he was caught breaking into the home of a neighbor and stealing a 23-year-old woman's dirty underwear; the judge says he was gripped by an "urge," and his lawyer assured the press that his client's "reputation throughout the court is stellar. Every judge, every lawyer respects him."
Judge Cicale admitted to stealing the young woman's underwear on several occasions but has pleaded not guilty in the burglary of his neighbor. The woman whose underwear he stole once worked with him as an intern at the Islip Town Attorney's Office, before Cicale was a judge.
Cicale was taken into custody after an incident that happened around 9 a.m. Thursday, when the young woman was alone. Prosecutors said she was sleeping but woke up when she heard the door open. She called out, "Hello?" and that's when she saw Cicale at the doorway.Authorities say he turned around and ran away, and the victim closed and locked the door and called her mother, who called 911. Responding officers say they saw Cicale walking up to a different house and pretending to knock on the door.
They approached him because he matched the description of the person the victim described. They reportedly found several pairs of soiled women's underwear on him, which the victim identified as her own.
New York district judge apologizes, admits he's serial underwear stealer [ABC 7]
(via Lowering the Bar)
