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Local judge accused of exposing self, groping traffic violators

All three traffic violators were meeting with the judge in hopes of getting more favorable offenses, according to the Department of Justice.
Credit: MichaB Chodyra
Law and Justice concept. Mallet of the judge, books, scales of justice.

HARTWELL, Ga. -- A judge has been charged with exchanging sexual favors for lighter traffic offenses, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Bobby Joe Smith, 77, was charged with one count of bribery and three counts of civil rights violations in an indictment filed in the Middle District of Georgia.

Smith had met with three different women on three separate occasions between May 2013 and May 2014, according to the indictment.

The traffic offenses between the three women ranged from driving under the influence to other miscellaneous driving offenses.

During the meetings, Smith allegedly kissed and groped the first woman who was appealing a lesser traffic offense. During a meeting with the second woman, Smith allegedly kissed her on the lips, groped her and then exposed himself.

When meeting with the third victim, Smith allegedly called and left a message for a probe judge in the county where the woman had received a speeding ticket. Smith then said in the message that the woman was his granddaughter after providing the citation information for her traffic offense.

Once he hung up the phone, Smith allegedly kissed the woman and then attempted to grope her. All three women claimed that his sexual advances were not consensual.

He is expected to be in court to face the charges on Wednesday.

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