2 Philly traffic judges admit ticket fixes

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PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Two former judges on the Philadelphia Traffic Court have admitted fixing tickets.

Kenneth N. Miller and Warren Hogeland entered guilty pleas Tuesday in federal court, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. They were the first of nine current and former judges facing charges to admit guilt.

Three non-judges have also been charged in the scandal. Miller and Hogeland were charged without being indicted, a hint that their lawyers had already arranged guilty pleas.

In separate hearings, both said they had dismissed tickets for people with connections to the court. In fact, the driver Hogeland assisted was Miller's son.

Hogeland pleaded guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud. He admitted dismissing a $150 speeding ticket given Kirk Miller.

Miller admitted he took care of a ticket issued to the son of a Delaware County court clerk for an illegal turn in Philadelphia.

Like other Philadelphia Traffic Court judges, Hogeland and Miller have had long careers of public service. Hogeland was a police officer and district justice in Northhampton in Bucks County while Miller had been a justice of the peace since 1968 in Upland in Delaware County where the police headquarters is named after him.

Both face a possible six months in prison but their lawyers are expected to argue for probation.