Retired judge takes felony plea deal after shooting at police, gets probation and community service
A retired Los Angeles Superior Court judge who was charged with felony assault after shooting at city police at his home last year has pleaded no contest and been sentenced to probation and community service.
The case against James Bascue, 75, was prosecuted by the state attorney general’s office and he was sentenced by an Orange County Superior Court judge in Santa Ana to avoid a conflict of interest.
His lawyer, Richard Hirsch, attributed the June 2015 incident to a combination of alcohol and Ambien consumed by Bascue, and he said Bascue has undergone alcohol treatment and sent a letter of apology to police, the Los Angeles Times (sub. req.) reports.
Judge Thomas Goethals said during a Friday court hearing that he was influenced by the apology, the fact that Bascue has been sober since his arrest and his lengthy career of high-level public service as a former judge and prosecutor in imposing a sentence that did not include prison time, City News Service reports.
Deputy Attorney General Zee Rodriguez said the state also took into account Bascue’s public service, as well as his age, health and “a great deal of remorse” he has shown, in extending the plea offer.
In addition to five years of probation and 500 hours of community service, Goethals ordered Bascue not to possess firearms, not to drive and not to use Ambien or other sleep aids. He must also wear an ankle monitor for a year that will record whether he has imbibed alcohol or drugs, the City News Service article says.
Police reportedly were called last year by Bascue, who claimed he was a hostage, and got to his townhome around 11:45 p.m. June 10. Authorities said he began loading magazines and a gun after officers arrived, then initially pointed a gun at his own head as they tried to persuade him to put his weapons down.
Bascue fired two shots, police said, one of which was aimed at an officer, which resulted in a SWAT team standoff and his arrest.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Retired judge is arrested after allegedly shooting at cops”
