Federal judge sentenced to 33 months

HOUSTON, May 11 (UPI) -- U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent of Houston was sentenced Monday to 33 months in prison Monday for lying to investigators.

Kent was being investigated for sexually harassing court employees, the Houston Chronicle reported. He now faces impeachment from the federal bench, congressional leaders said.

"Unless Judge Samuel Kent immediately resigns, we intend to introduce a resolution jointly to commence an inquiry into whether grounds exist to impeach him and remove him from office," said a joint statement issued by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, the committee's ranking Republican member.

Kent, 59, retired after pleading guilty in February. Unless he resigns, he will continue drawing his $174,000 annual salary even though he is not hearing cases because he was appointed for life.

Kent pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice for lying to a judicial panel investigating a sexual harassment complaint. He admitted he's had non-consensual sexual contact with the two court employees between 2003 and 2007.

The five sexual misconduct charges were dismissed as a part of a plea agreement.

Kent's lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, said talk of impeachment is premature.

"I find it sad, but predictable, that politicians rush to condemn a defeated, disabled, but decent man without knowing the full story. Sam Kent awaits a decision on his disability and will make his decision after that occurs," DeGuerin was quoted by the newspaper as saying.