A former Monroe County, Arkansas district court judge was arrested on charges alleging he solicited sex from a defendant’s girlfriend in exchange for making a deal regarding the defendant’s criminal case.
The DOJ reported Thomas David Carruth allegedly solicited sex from a defendant’s girlfriend in exchange for “expediting that defendant’s trial date.”
Carruth is now being charged with one count of bribery, one count of obstruction of justice, three counts of honest services wire fraud, and count of making false statements.
If Carruth is convicted, he will face up to 20 years in prison.
Former Arkansas judge David Carruth facing federal charges, accusations of soliciting sex for rulings https://t.co/7Wtd9bm08A
— KARK 4 News (@KARK4News) January 5, 2023
Carruth however is maintaining his innocence and told KARK 4 News he was being blackmailed by a woman.
He would go on to say as soon as he was blackmailed he notified both the FBI and the Arkansas State Police right away.
"Monroe County District Court Judge David Carruth told KARK 4 News on Thursday that a woman in Clarendon has been trying to blackmail him in a case involving her boyfriend."https://t.co/rhqqlGsBGs
— The Triune Times (@TriuneTimes) January 11, 2023
Carruth would go on to tell the press “I’ve done everything I’m supposed to do. When someone tried getting me to do something, I contacted authorities.”
Currently Carruth has been released from custody until his next court date.
