A former Alameda County Superior Court judge charged with swindling a 97-year-old neighbor out of her life savings pleaded no contest Thursday to elder abuse and perjury and will not face jail time.
Paul Seeman, who was originally charged with dozens of felony counts, is expected to be sentenced to five years of probation Oct. 22 as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. He will be ordered not to live with or act as a caregiver for an elder or dependent adult other than family members or act as a fiduciary for anyone, authorities said.
District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said, "Seeman has paid for his breach of trust as a judicial officer, and he has paid for his financial abuse of the elderly victim who has since passed away. He will never serve in a position of trust or authority again, as a result of these convictions. Justice is served through the resolution of this case."
Seeman, 58, of Berkeley has declined to discuss the case. His attorney, Laurel Headley, declined to comment Thursday.
In the charges filed last year, authorities said Seeman had befriended Anne Nutting, his neighbor across the street on Santa Barbara Road in the Berkeley hills, and obtained powers of attorney for her and her husband, who died in 1999.
He then used those powers to gain control of Nutting's finances, sold her art works and barred her from her house from 1999 to 2007 while she lived in a hotel at the Berkeley Marina, prosecutors said. She died in 2010, but not before consulting with an attorney who then contacted police.
Seeman was also accused of lying about his financial transactions with Nutting in his sworn statements of economic interests, and with misusing judicial staff.
Seeman acknowledged to police that he had put himself in an "awfully bad situation" while handling Nutting's financial affairs. He told a Berkeley police detective that it was "clearly a mistake for me to stay as enmeshed with her as I did," authorities said.
At the same time, Seeman said he didn't believe he had "done anything unethical or inappropriate," district attorney's Inspector Kathy Boyovich wrote in an 87-page search-warrant affidavit filed in Superior Court.
Seeman resigned from the bench in March. As a result of his convictions, he is barred from seeking judicial office and disbarred from practicing law in California.
District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said, "Seeman has paid for his breach of trust as a judicial officer, and he has paid for his financial abuse of the elderly victim who has since passed away. He will never serve in a position of trust or authority again, as a result of these convictions. Justice is served through the resolution of this case."
Seeman, 58, of Berkeley has declined to discuss the case. His attorney, Laurel Headley, declined to comment Thursday.
In the charges filed last year, authorities said Seeman had befriended Anne Nutting, his neighbor across the street on Santa Barbara Road in the Berkeley hills, and obtained powers of attorney for her and her husband, who died in 1999.
He then used those powers to gain control of Nutting's finances, sold her art works and barred her from her house from 1999 to 2007 while she lived in a hotel at the Berkeley Marina, prosecutors said. She died in 2010, but not before consulting with an attorney who then contacted police.
Seeman was also accused of lying about his financial transactions with Nutting in his sworn statements of economic interests, and with misusing judicial staff.
Seeman acknowledged to police that he had put himself in an "awfully bad situation" while handling Nutting's financial affairs. He told a Berkeley police detective that it was "clearly a mistake for me to stay as enmeshed with her as I did," authorities said.
At the same time, Seeman said he didn't believe he had "done anything unethical or inappropriate," district attorney's Inspector Kathy Boyovich wrote in an 87-page search-warrant affidavit filed in Superior Court.
Seeman resigned from the bench in March. As a result of his convictions, he is barred from seeking judicial office and disbarred from practicing law in California.
Full Article and Source:
Ex-judge avoids jail for fleecing woman
See Also:
Judge Paul Seeman, Charged With Elder Abuse, Resigns
Alameda County judge charged in elder abuse case to take leave of absence; affidavit outlines charges
CA: Alameda County Judge Charged With Elder Theft
2 comments:
No jail time? While I'm glad to see him confess, where are the consequences for what he's done?
Yeah, why should he get off?
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