GALVESTON, Texas, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- A U.S. District judge in Galveston, Texas, is alleged to have sexually abused a member of his staff on more than one occasion, court documents claim.
ABC News reported Friday that a federal grand jury indicted U.S. District Court Judge Samuel B. Kent on three charges in relation to the 59-year-old's alleged decision to inappropriately touch a staff member in March 2007 and August 2003.
Thursday's indictment alleged that the 2007 incident involved Kent attempting to force the female coworker to perform oral sex on him.
Kent attorney Dick DeGuerin said the allegations against his client were only made after thre accuser learned she was about to lose her job.
"The first time she ever complained was when she was about to be fired," DeGuerin added. "Then she successfully avoided getting fired by making (these) outrageous claims that are not true. We will contest it and we will go to trial."
ABC News said Kent was ordered to take a four-month leave of absence in 2007 after a federal judiciary panel admonished him as a result of sexual harassment allegations.
