TACOMA, Wash. - A jury on Wednesday found Pierce County Superior Court Judge Michael Hecht guilty of felony harassment and patronizing a prostitute.
Judge Michael Hecht held his wife's hand over the railing as the verdict was read.
The jury found the Hecht guilty of paying one man for sex multiple times and threatening to kill another who had talked about having sex with him.
Despite the conviction, Hecht and his wife argue that the verdict was a disappointing result of a political attack.
"A lot of times you can't say what was said in court because it's hearsay. But what happened is Morgan Armijo had come up to me and said 'No matter what you're not going to stay on the bench,'" said Hecht.
Morgan Armijo is the son of Sergio Armijo, the man Hecht defeated in the election for the judge's seat. Morgan Armijo also happens to be the private detective who first alerted detectives to Hecht's actions on Antique Row.
Armijo told KING 5 that police conducted their own independent investigation after his tip.
"They scrutinized and verified, not only took what I gave them, but expanded it. There's no politics involved," he said.
Armijo adds that he has no vendetta against Hecht over the election, saying only "You don't want to let someone like that be a judge."
Prosecutor John Hillman applauded the jury's decision.
"To say that this is a set-up is simply absurd. And I understand that the judge, Judge Hecht is upset, but that's ridiculous," he said.
Hecht, however, said the jurors were fooled by the testimony of drug addicts and prostitutes.
"They were duped ... and I thank them for their consideration in the matter," he said.
Hecht, who has no criminal history, faces up to 90 days in jail. The state commission on judicial conduct will review Hecht's actions in February and based on their findings they can recommend his dismissal to the supreme court.
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