Former Montana Municipal Judge Takes Plea in Federal Bribery Case
A former municipal judge for Butte and Silverbow County, Montana, has taken a plea in a bribery case.
Steven J. Kambich, 53, who has been on the bench there since 2004, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Missoula to a single county of bribery. It concerned $13,000 in payments he is accused of accepting in exchange for leniency in 10 more traffic and misdemeanor cases in 2008 and 2009, according to the KBZK/KXLF Media Center.
He resigned last month, citing personal reasons. The FBI began a probe after receiving a tip that Kambich was accepting bribes, then reportedly confirmed unexplained deposits of over $13,000 to Kambich’s bank account by examining his bank records.
He could get as much as 10 years and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced April 13.
