Florida judge faces charges of vacating 60-year prison sentence for campaign help

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The board that investigates complaints against Florida judges says a Broward County judge is facing charges that he suspended a sentence for a robber in exchange for getting help for his re-election campaign.

The Judicial Qualifications Commission said Thursday that Circuit Judge Matthew Destry created the appearance that he traded a favorable sentence for political support.

The case stems from 2015 when Destry sentenced a convicted robber to 60 years in prison for violating his probation.

The complaint says one of the activists promoted the judge's campaign.

he commission says the judge reversed the sentence a week later after meeting with two activists who persuaded him that they would help keep the defendant out of trouble.