Pierce County Superior Court Judge Michael Hecht took the witness stand this morning in his own defense and emphatically denied knowing two men who previously testified that they sold sex to Hecht.

"Until he walked in here to testify, I had never seen John Marx ever," Hecht said in response to a question from his attorney, Wayne Fricke.

He gave a similar response when Fricke asked him about Eddie Smith.

Marx and Smith both testified during the state's case that they had sex with Hecht at his law office on North Pearl Street prior to Hecht being elected judge. Hecht paid them for the sex, they both testified.

Hecht is charged with felony harassment and patronizing a prostitute. Assistant state attorney general John Hillman contends Hecht frequented the downtown area of Tacoma for years, picking up male prostitutes and taking them to the office on North Pearl for sex.

Hillman has charged Hecht with patronizing a prostitute for allegedly paying a man named Joseph Pfeiffer for sex. Pfeiffer testified last week that he sold sex to Hecht on a number of occasions.

Hecht is charged with harassment for allegedly threatening to kill another man who claims he sold sex to Hecht, Joseph Hesketh IV. Hesketh testified earlier in the trial that Hecht confronted him on the street in August 2008 and threatened to kill him if he didn't stop spreading rumors about the then judge-elect.

Hecht does not deny confronting Hesketh but denies threatening to kill him. He also testified today that he never bought sex from Hesketh as the witness claimed.

"I didn't know who this Joey person was," the judge testified.

The judge began telling his version of the encounter this morning, about hearing on Aug. 29, 2008, that someone named "Joey" was talking about him on the streets and about his efforts to find out who that person was.

"I went down, and I asked a few other people who this Joey could be," Hecht said.

At one point, Pfeiffer called him on his cell phone, the judge said. He then explained how Pfeiffer, a user of illegal drugs and a self-admitted prostitute, came to have his phone number.

Hecht talked about meeting Pfeiffer near Antique Row and his efforts to help the young man. Hecht said he probably gave Pfeiffer his business card at one point.

The judge said he developed a platonic relationship with Pfeiffer and listened to the young man's problems once in a whilce. He described his role as that of a "helpful grandpa type."

Hecht went on to explain that Pfeiffer had come to his office on three occasions, each time after Hecht found the young man despondent on the street or needing money. Hecht said they twice talked about Pfeiffer's troubles. The third time, Hecht paid Pfeiffer to move some furniture for him.

Hecht then returned to his testimony about confronting Hesketh and about how Pfeiffer was in his car at the time and pointed out Hesketh and Hesketh's boyfriend as they walked down Opera Alley in downtown Tacoma.

Hecht was beginning to describe in detail the confrontation when King County Superior Court Judge James Cayce called the lunch break. Hecht is expected back on the stand at 1:30 p.m.

The courtroom was jammed with spectators this morning, including many lawyers who practice regularly at the County-City Building.

Hecht was obviously nervous. At one point, Fricke asked the judge about his health problems. Hecht testified that he has diabetes and that if his sugar level gets too high he tends to perspire. Hecht said his sugar levels were a little high today.

You can read more about the case here.

Categories: Courts
Tags: Judge Hecht