Judge arrested for stealing bail, child support money suspended without pay, will remain behind bars

July 29th, 2014 (InsideCostaRica.com) A criminal court judge in Upala, Alajuela, identified by the last name Leon who was arrested last Thursday on charges that he stole bail and child support funds, has been suspended without pay.

The court also ordered that Leon remain in preventive detention for three months while prosecutors prepare their case.

According to the official investigation, in October of last year, a criminal defendant posted bail of ¢2 million, apparently delivered in cash to the judge. Prosecutors say the judge did not deposit the funds to the State but apparently pocketed the money instead.

The second incident occurred in April of this year, when the judge allegedly collected ¢320,000 from a man jailed for unpaid child support.  Those funds were supposed to be handed over to the mother of the man’s child, but the judge allegedly pocketed those funds as well.

The judge is charged with two counts of embezzlement, punishable by three to twelve years in prison.

Leon also worked as a judge in Cañas, Guanacaste.