Posted on 04/30/2004 5:47:48 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - A jury Friday convicted a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge of conspiracy and obstruction of justice for fixing 29 traffic tickets and giving judicial breaks to professional athletes and acquaintances.
Judge William Danser, 50, was convicted of all nine counts against him, the most serious being one count of felony conspiracy. He faces up to three years in prison. A sentencing date will be set May 24.
Danser was indicted in September of improperly dismissing traffic tickets for more than a dozen people, including the president and goalie of the San Jose Sharks, the forward of the San Jose Earthquakes, as well as for his children's schoolteacher and a staffer's father. He was also accused of improperly transferring two drunken-driving cases to his courtroom.
Randy Bishop, a former Los Gatos Police detective who was also indicted in the case, earlier pleaded no contest and will be sentenced at the same time as Danser.
Danser claimed he was duped by the cop to fix the tickets.
After a nearly monthlong trial, the six-man six-woman jury reached its verdict in just four hours.
Danser, who has been on paid administrative leave since his indictment, now faces possible action from the California Commission on Judicial Performance and the State Bar of California.
Danser was appointed to the bench by Gov. Pete Wilson in 1995 and is the first sitting judge in Santa Clara County to face misconduct charges in more than 14 years.
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