Judge pleads guilty to sexual abuse and harassment

ALBANY, Ore. – A long-time judge and prosecutor in Linn County admitted Tuesday to abusing his power to get sexual favors from women and agreed to a plea bargain with the attorney general that included surrendering his law license for the rest of his life.

Additionally, Larry Houchin, who is 70 and was a judge for the city of Lebanon and a prosecutor at the Linn County Courthouse for 30 years, pleaded guilty to two counts of official misconduct, one count of third degree sexual abuse, and one count of sexual harassment.

One of his victims said she couldn’t believe a judge could commit such crimes.

"He had a high title in society. Nobody would think a judge would be doing this. Nobody at all, especially in a little town like Lebanon, Oregon,” said Joy Fentress.

Fentress came forward to empower other women. She lost her arm to cancer, and she said the judge knew it.

"To be able to still prey on me, after knowing what I've already gone through,” she said.

She and two others were on probation under Houchin's supervision when he served at the city of Lebanon's municipal court.
 
 He resigned at the end of last year but not before pressuring the three to perform sexual favors.

Candice Gutierrez was the first one to turn him in.

"I'm proud of myself for finally speaking up and going through more mental anguish than I really didn't have room for,” she said.

The judge's fourth victim is dispatcher for the city of Lebanon Police Department. He confessed to sexually harassing her.

The judge had been investigated before for similar crimes in 2005, but investigators didn't find a crime.

This time there was proof he lost control and as part of his punishment, Houchin will get locked up in jail for 30 days. He also has to register as a sex offender.