Smitten, e-stalking judge gets to avoid prison

KOFU, Yamanashi Pref. (Kyodo) A judge was sentenced to a suspended six-month prison term Friday by the Kofu District Court for sending harassing e-mail messages to a female subordinate for whom he had "romantic feelings."

Yoshiharu Shimoyama KYODO PHOTO

Judge Yasushi Watanabe said defendant Yoshiharu Shimoyama, 55, used a fake name to send e-mail messages that suggested the victim was under surveillance and called his crime "cunning and vicious."

While declaring the defendant deserves censure for harassing the victim and damaging public trust in the judicial system, Watanabe said he suspended the prison term for two years because the defendant "expressed apologies to the victim and it is highly likely that he will be dismissed at an impeachment trial."

Shimoyama, while head of the Tsuru branch of the Kofu District and Family Court in Yamanashi Prefecture, sent 16 harassing e-mails to the woman's cell phone between last February and March. Shimoyama, now an Utsunomiya District Court judge, pleaded guilty in hopes of getting a suspended term. He won't appeal, his lawyer said.