The board that investigates complaints against Florida judges says a Broward County judge is facing charges that he suspended a sentence for a robber in exchange for getting help for his re-election campaign.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission said Thursday that Circuit Judge Matthew Destry created the appearance that he traded a favorable sentence for political support.
The Sun Sentinel of South Florida says the case stems from 2015 when Destry sentenced a convicted robber to 60 years in prison for violating his probation.
The commission says the judge reversed the sentence a week later after meeting with two activists who persuaded him that they would help keep the defendant out of trouble.
The complaint says one of the activists promoted the judge's campaign.
Destry declined to comment.
