WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – A county judge accused of fondling a 10-year-old girl at a teen pop concert pleaded no contest Monday, the day his trial was to begin.
Mark Pazuhanich (search) was sentenced to 10 years probation and must register as a sex offender. He tearfully said in court that he would resign his Monroe County (search) judgeship. Pazuhanich blamed his problems on alcohol and medication.
The victim testified at a hearing in January that Pazuhanich touched her inappropriately throughout the Hilary Duff (search) concert on Nov. 29, several weeks after he was elected to the bench.
Pazuhanich pleaded no contest to two counts of indecent assault, one count of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of corruption of minors.
Earlier, a judge suspended Pazuhanich's visitation rights with his daughter, who lives with her mother in New Jersey and attended the concert with him. As part of Monday's settlement, Pazuhanich must stay away from his daughter unless the visit is supervised and approved by the court.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox