SEX FAVORS FOR FAVOR: JUDGE ROSS CIOPPA CHARGED

JUDGE

A VETERAN judge has been charged with trying to exchange sexual favors for positive verdicts. 
Lecherous law man Ross Cioppa, 70, allegedly asked one woman to kiss him and massage his genitals after taking her into his official chambers of his Pittsburgh, PA court. 
Grand Jury records add that when she refused he said that no one would believe her if she were to tell 'because he's a judge and he's well-known out there'. 
But according to the Tribune Review he then pulled out a camera, and told the woman who's landlord was trying to evict her and her three children, that if she allowed him to take pictures of her, she could stay.
She agreed, although it's unclear how clothed she was at the time, and he later ruled in her favor.
He is also accused of making similar advances towards another woman who was asking about her dispute with her landlord, in November 2009.
According to the records when she denied his advances he approached her in the parking lot where he had blocked her car and prevented her from leaving.  
Then he asked her out on a date and gave her his business card, but when she didn't call he ruled against her case.
She later later appealed and won. 
DA Stephen A. Zappala Jr told the paper: "This is dealing with the integrity of the justice system. The victims are some of the most vulnerable people in the community."
He added that an employee and a former employee of the court sparked the investigation, saying Cioppa's conduct offended them.
Over the past several years, three female assistant district attorneys asked for transfers from prosecuting cases in Cioppa's courtroom. 
Cioppa, who had planned to retire after 12-years on the job, is denying two counts each of bribery, indecent assault and official oppression.
His lawyer Phil DiLucente said: "We look forward to putting this behind the judge. This is someone who has served his community for two decades."