Convicted of theft of $2K in services, ex-judge faces potential loss of $6K monthly pension
A Philadelphia jury deliberated only about 90 minutes before convicting a retired former Common Pleas Court judge of using his office and chambers to operate a personal real estate business.
Found guilty of theft of services and conflict of interest, Willis Berry Jr., 72, shrugged his shoulders and said: “The jury has spoken,” the Legal Intelligencer (sub. req.) reports.
One of Berry’s lawyers, W. Fred Harrison Jr., called the evidence in the case “minimal at best.”
Berry could get prison time when he is sentenced in October, but deputy state attorney general Daniel Dye said guidelines call for a sentence of probation, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Dye also said he would ask for restitution, but declined to say how much.
The jury estimated the loss to the state because of the judge’s theft of services at around $2,000, according to the Inquirer. As a result of his conviction on the two felony charges, Berry could lose his state pension of a little over $6,000 per month, the newspaper says.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Fired secretary is star witness at trial of ex-judge accused of operating business from chambers”