HARRISBURG, Pa. –A York County Judge is facing new charges today. Attorney General Kathleen Kane says Jeffrey Scott Joy offered to expunge a woman’s criminal record and vacate her outstanding court fines if she “modeled” lingerie for him. Joy was charged last week with misdemeanor counts of official oppression, indecent assault and harassment, as well as a summary count of harassment.
Joy, 50, of 13 S. 4th St., New Freedom, was charged today with two felony counts of bribery in official and political matters. Other charges include two misdemeanor counts of harassment, as well as one misdemeanor count of official oppression.
The victim, a 39 year old woman, made a report earlier this week to the Pennsylvania State Police, the agency investigating the case. She reported that she appeared in Joy’s courtroom. She said the judge later made unsolicited visits to her home, including one instance in which she said that he offered to vacate her court fines and expunge her criminal record, according to a criminal complaint.
The woman told state police Joy offered to do this if she would “model” items of lingerie for him. The woman said she believed this was a quid pro quo offer, the criminal complaint states.
Joy was initially charged after a different woman who appeared in his courtroom made a report to state police. The woman stated that Joy visited her apartment and allegedly groped her backside and breast and also licked her breast without her consent, state police said in a criminal complaint.
The investigation also included interviews with two additional women. One claimed Joy made inappropriate sexual comments toward her while in his courtroom. The other woman reported that Joy made multiple visits to her home after she appeared in his court.
Joy was assigned to the district court located on Fairview Court in New Freedom.
The Office of Attorney General assumed jurisdiction in the case upon receiving a conflict referral from the York County district attorney’s office. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Daniel J. Dye.
The Office of Attorney General and Pennsylvania State Police have reason to believe Judge Joy may have engaged in inappropriate, corrupt, or criminal contact with other citizens who appeared in his court. Anyone with information concerning Judge Joy is encouraged to contact the Pennsylvania State Police York barracks at 717-428-1011.
