Judge Accused of Lying Suspended With Pay

A Seneca County judge indicted on charges that he lied about a 2013 beating outside of court has been suspended with pay.

The New York Court of Appeals' suspension of Honorable Roger W. Barto, acting justice of the Waterloo Village Court, was effective on July 16 — the day of the ruling.

Barto is accused of lying about a 2013 beating  outside court, falsely collecting insurance money and stealing gas from the Seneca County village.

The Seneca County District Attorney's Office unsealed a nine-count indictment charging Barto with five felonies and four misdemeanors stemming from the August 13, 2013 incident.

Barto told police that he was attacked from behind as he locked up Waterloo Village Court after an arraignment. Specifically, he claimed he'd been choked and hit on the head with a toilet tank lid left in a nearby garbage container during building renovations.

Barto allegedly lied about the encounter and also on insurance forms several days later, according to court documents, and is accused of collecting more than $3,000 in medical benefits through mid-June.

He's also accused of stealing gasoline that belonged to the village at Maple Grove Cemetery, according to Seneca County District Attorney Barry Porsch.

Barto pleaded not guilty in Seneca County Court to the indictment, which includes third-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree corrupting the government, third-degree insurance fraud, first-degree falsifying business records and defrauding the government, all felonies. He's also facing charges of third-degree falsely reporting an incident, petit larceny and two counts of official misconduct, all misdemeanors.

He was released on his own recognizance and is slated to return to court Aug. 11.

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Judge Accused of Lying Suspended With Pay