A Kenai man, formerly a high-profile Pennsylvania judge, accepted a plea deal last week after allegations he illegally took cocaine and other drugs seized during police investigations.
In move described as “unusual,” 59-year-old Paul Pozonsky would require police officers to store drug evidence in his chambers. Eyebrows were raised in May of 2012 when Pozonsky ordered the destruction of evidence in 17 cases, some of which were still making their way through the appeals process.
Investigators also discovered case evidence in the judge’s chambers which appeared to have been tampered with. In one case, they say envelopes which were supposed to contain 20 grams of cocaine instead held 40 grams of baking soda.
Pozonsky moved to Alaska in 2012 after nearly 30 years serving as one of North Strabane’s premier criminal judges.
Pozonsky helped create a drug treatment court in 2004, which funneled alleged drug offenders into rehabilitation programs instead of prison. That was shut down in mid-2012 after the allegations arose and Pozonsky was stripped of criminal presidings.
In last Friday’s deal, it’s unlikely Pozonsky will face jail time, though the charges carry a maximum sentence of two years. Instead, he may lose his pension, his first monthly payment was nearly $8,000, and pay a fine.