Ex-Philadelphia Judge Gets 2 Years For Influence Peddling
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A former Philadelphia Municipal Court judge was sentenced today to two years in prison for corruption.
Joseph Waters Jr., 61 -- a onetime US Marine, police captain, lawyer, and judge -- said in court that what he did was "just stupid."
Waters admitted selling his office for $5,500 in cash and gifts, given to get his help in fixing cases. One was a small claims case; another was a gun case that was actually a sting.
Waters, caught on tape, pleaded guilty.
Today, Judge Juan Sanchez imposed sentence.
"What struck me in this case is that the minute Judge Waters took the oath of office, he was willing to put his office up for sale," Judge Sanchez said. "Even in his own words, 'Anything I can do to help or anything that you are interested in, just call me, pick up the phone and call me.' "
Waters, who said he stood before the court a repentant, remorseful, disgraced, embarrassed, broken man, said he hopes in the future to achieve at least a modicum of redemption for what he did.
In addition to the prison time, he was also ordered to pay $5,700 in fines and fees and must spend three years under court supervision once he's out of prison.
