Judge Accused Of Sexual Assault Will Not Face Charges

An Orange County judge, who went on administrative leave during a sexual assault investigation, will not face criminal charges. The sheriff's office told Channel 9 that Judge James Hauser has been cleared.

Hauser stepped down from the bench after a law school student accused him of exposing himself to her in her apartment.

Orange County sheriff's sex crimes investigators said they're "stuck." They said the 34-year-old Barry University Law School student, who accused Judge Hauser of trying to sexually assault her and of exposing himself to her, will not answer their follow-up questions.

Email News Sign-Up Multiple Choices - Auto sign-up (LEFT ALIGN) GET WFTV NEWS HEADLINES BY EMAIL 9 a.m. Headlines Noon Headlines 4 p.m. Headlines News of the Strange Breaking News Alerts Investigators said she is not the one who came to them with her accusation in the first place. They said Judge Hauser passed his own and a sheriff's office voice stress test and agreed to call her while wearing a wire. But, after the first statement, the alleged victim has clammed up.

"I think we've got questions that we need to pose, that we need to get answered before I can answer that," said Commander Matt Irwin, Orange County Sheriff's Office, when questioned if he thought the alleged victim was telling the truth.

Judge Hauser has insisted his sexual encounter with the married 34-year-old woman in her apartment was consensual.

Judge Hauser has been off the bench since the accusation came to light last year. Friday, his attorney said they're viewing the new developments as an exoneration, but it's still unclear whether Judge Hauser will go back to the bench before the Judicial Qualifications Commission is done investigating him.