State Judge Charged With Helping Illegal Alien Evade Immigration Agent

District Court Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph (C) departs federal court in Boston, on April 25, 2019, after facing obstruction of justice charges for allegedly helping a man in the country illegally evade immigration officials as he left her Newton, Mass., courthouse after a hearing in 2018. Steven Senne/AP Photo

BOSTON—A Massachusetts judge was indicted on Thursday, April 25, on charges that she helped a man who was living in the U.S. illegally sneak out a back door of the courthouse to evade a waiting immigration enforcement agent.

Newton District Court Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph and former court officer Wesley MacGregor were charged with obstruction of justice based on accusations that they schemed to let the illegal alien escape after a hearing last year on charges that included drug possession.