Tacoma Judge Who Paid Prostitute Receives No Jail Time

Pierce County Superior Court Michael Hecht, convicted earlier this month of patronizing a prostitute and threatening to kill another man, received no jail time at his sentencing Thursday.

For the felony harassment with threat to kill conviction, Hecht received 30 days in jail that was converted to community service.

He received a suspended 90-day sentence for the charge of patronizing a prostitute and was sentenced to attend a "john school" prostitution diversion program.

While asking Judge James Cayce not to send him to jail, 59-year-old Hecht wept.

"Please, please I'm begging you to allow me to go home with my family with what little dignity I have left,” he said.

He went on to say, “I am a broken man who is living a horrible, horrible lie and I don't know how to say it another way than I want to scream.”

He’s referring to what he claims was a plot to set him up after he was elected as a judge in Pierce County Superior Court in August 2008.

It was after he was elected judge, that Hecht threatened to kill a male prostitute that was talking with others about their relationship.

Judge Cayce decided not to follow the recommendation from prosecutor John Hillman that would have sent Hecht to jail.

Instead he handed down suspended sentences and community service.

“You knew what you'd done when you ran for judge, you knew that you'd be under scrutiny as a judge, and you deserve everything you've gotten,” Cayce said.

Hecht's supporters at Thursday's sentencing said he deserves a break because he has already lost his job, which paid $148,000 a year.

Hecht continues to maintain his innocence.

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Information from: The News Tribune

Previous Stories: October 28, 2009: Tacoma Judge Found Guilty In Prostitution Case October 27, 2009: Case Of Judge Accused Of Paying For Sex Goes To Jury October 26, 2009: Tacoma Judge Takes Stand In Own Trial October 15, 2009: Former Prostitute Takes Stand In Trial Of Tacoma Judge