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CALL 6: Ex-judge pleads guilty to official misconduct

Posted at 5:40 PM, Nov 14, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-15 11:37:52-05

SHELBY COUNTY, Ind. -- A former Lawrence Township judge will learn his fate Wednesday after pleading guilty to official misconduct.

Attorney Clark Rehme was arrested in 2015 for inappropriate sexual conduct with female inmates.

According to a plea agreement signed September 21, 2016, Rehme agreed to plead guilty to felony official misconduct, and in exchange prosecutors dismissed a felony sexual misconduct charge.

Rehme is expected to receive a sentence of 2.5 years of probation, and he can have no contact with the victims.

Rehme must also pay restitution of $183 and pay other probation and court costs.

RELATED Clark Rehme: Former Lawrence Township judge accused of sexual misconduct with inmate

The former Lawrence Township judge must complete the sex offender management program through community corrections.

At a 10 a.m. hearing Wednesday a judge will officially sentence Rehme in Shelby County.

He can follow the plea agreement or deviate from it.

According to a probable cause affidavit released in 2015, a female inmate at the Shelby County Jail told officers her court-appointed attorney, Clark G. Rehme, had her show him her breasts and had exposed himself to her before having her perform oral sex on him.

The inmate told officers she believed she would receive help on her case if she did these things.

Subsequently, a second inmate also represented by Rehme told officers he had inappropriate sexual discussions with her, including about "sex acts he had engaged in with his wife and another lady in the past."

The second inmate said she was uncomfortable with Rehme being her attorney.

Both inmates agreed to meet with Rehme again and have their meetings recorded and monitored.

Rehme visited with the second female inmate at the Shelby County Jail.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Rehme "discussed the bond hearing real quick, then the discussion turns to sex."

Police said Rehme had the inmate pull her shirt up, then exposed himself and asked her to move beside him. Rehme then allegedly "positions paperwork in front of them as if they are looking at paperwork."

As soon as the woman sat down, police said Rehme could be seen placing his hand near her genitals. At that point, officers entered the room and placed Rehme under arrest.

Rehme was previously the judge of the Small Claims Court of Lawrence Township in Marion County. He was the Republican nominee for the position in 2014 but lost in the general election.