20-month sentence in ticket-fixing case for another former Philly traffic court judge
Pastor Willie Singletary delivered a rafter-raising sermon at the federal courthouse in Philadelphia on Thursday, after arriving in a tour bus filled with supporters from his Consolation Baptist Church.
But the 33-year-old former Philadelphia traffic court judge was still sentenced to a 20-month prison term by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Stengel, who cited Singletary’s seeming lack of respect for the law, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Like other jurists who went to trial in the massive ticket-fixing case, Singletary was acquitted on most counts but found guilty of making false statements to investigators. Elected to the bench in 2008 at age 26, Singletary turned out to owe five-figure sums for tickets, fines and child support, the newspaper notes.
Judge Stengel said he also felt that something else was to blame for the downfall of Singletary, who was elected to the bench after overcoming an impoverished childhood and having only obtained a high school education.
“How someone so unqualified for this office can be elected says more to me about the diseased political system that puts this person up for office than it does about Mr. Singletary himself,” the judge stated.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Mixed verdict in Philly ticket-fix conspiracy case: 2 judges acquitted, 4 guilty on only one count”
ABAJournal.com: “Ex-judge is latest to get time in federal ticket-fixing case targeting Philadelphia traffic court”
