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Spring Trial For Judge Accused Of Swiping Cocaine

WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) - A retired western Pennsylvania judge accused of stealing cocaine seized in police investigations has been scheduled for a spring trial.

The Observer-Reporter reports Friday ex-Washington County judge Paul Pozonsky's trial on conflict of interest, theft, drug possession and other charges will start March 23.

A judge's ruled in October that prosecutors could use items seized without a warrant from Pozonsky's chambers as evidence because they were missing court exhibits, not personal property.

Pozonsky's lawyer argued a president judge's order to search Pozonsky's chambers was an illegal attempt to "circumvent the Fourth Amendment."

Prosecutors say they obtained the order over concern for "the integrity of the evidence."

The 59-year-old Pozonsky moved to Alaska in 2012 after 15 years as a common pleas judge. He remains free on $25,000 unsecured bond.

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(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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