Ex-Judge Fights Release of Lurid Audiotape
A former Tennessee judge is fighting the release of an audiotape that contains his lurid fantasies that sounded like someone being tortured.
Judge John Hagler resigned last month after the Chattanooga Times Free Press learned about the recording, the Associated Press reports. A fired secretary had turned it over to a physician, who gave it to police, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. The secretary said the tape also contained legal dictation.
Investigators wanted to learn if the tape was related to an unsolved murder, but later determined it contained only fantasies. At a hearing yesterday, Chattanooga police Sgt. Alan Franks said investigators were shocked about the material on the tape. “Because of the content of the tape, it sounded like someone was being tortured.”
Hagler says in a statement (PDF posted by the Chattanooga Times Free Press) the tape should not be released to the public.
“Any decent person would also conclude that public dissemination, beyond the description [of graphic fantasies] previously given, can serve no legitimate purpose and can only hurt, and continue to hurt, my family and me. I can accept that I deserve this infamy, but I cannot accept that my family does.”
Hagler, 65, is married.
