Former Philadelphia Judge Sentenced For Lying During Ticket-Fixing Probe
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Rejecting a defense request for house arrest or probation for the 71-year-old defendant, a federal judge today sentenced former Philadelphia Traffic Court president judge Thomasine Tynes to two years in prison for lying to authorities in a wide-ranging ticket fixing case.
Sentencing Judge Lawrence Stengel said the likeable, charming, intelligent, community-involved defendant, with the courtroom full of supporters, had "an honesty problem."
An emotional Thomasine Tynes admitted wrongdoing, and apologized, "for the shame and the embarrassment that I have brought to the criminal justice system, my peers, colleagues, and citizens of Pennsylvania, my friends. "This may be the only time in my life I am fortunate not to have family, because they would also have been embarrassed by my actions," she said.
Tynes is charged in a separate state bribery case. She is cooperating and is expected to plead guilty.
