Seattle Judge Faces Shoplifting Charge

Sun., Jan. 12, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

A Seattle Municipal Court judge has been charged with third-degree theft, accused of shoplifting three neckties and a bottle of hair gel from the downtown Nordstrop store.

Judge Stephen R. Schaefer, 62, was arrested by Seattle police Nov. 30 after store security guards detained him. Schaefer, the court’s senior judge, has served on the bench 20 years. He is paid about $81,000 a year.

Michael Lambo, Schaefer’s attorney, has said Schaefer was suffering from stress, anxiety and forgetfulness before the incident.

Schaefer, who was charged Friday, has been on leave from the court since Dec. 2.

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