Massachusetts Judge Shelley Joseph of the Newton District Court faces federal charges of helping an illegal alien flee a courtroom in order to escape ICE, The Daily Caller reports.
In April, Joseph assisted the illegal alien, Jose Medina-Perez, in escaping through a backdoor in the courthouse to avoid ICE officers waiting outside to arrest him. Perez had twice been deported already, and was in court facing charges for possession of narcotics and a DUI in Pennsylvania.
After Perez’s bail hearing, Joseph ordered the ICE officer to leave the courtroom. She then asked the court clerk to turn off the courtroom recorder, at which point she directed Perez to leave through a back door leading to a parking lot, while the ICE officer was still waiting in the lobby.
Federal prosecutors charged Joseph with “conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice.” Joseph has chosen not to take a plea deal and instead plans to go to trial.