In a written response bolstered by letters and sworn declarations from more than a dozen witnesses, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Michael Hecht denies every charge brought against him by the state’s Commission on Judicial Conduct, including that he has patronized prostitutes.

The commission last month formally charged Hecht with violating three canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct by allegedly exchanging cash and legal advice for sex, threatening two men, using racially insensitive language and engaging in unfair campaign conduct.

Hecht filed his 62-page response to the commission’s “statement of charges” on April 30. In it, he offers a detailed explanation about why the charges are false and asks the commission to drop its case against him.

“All charges against me should be dismissed, as they are not supported by credible evidence,” Hecht wrote in his response, a copy of which The News Tribune obtained Friday.

In his response, Hecht addressed each of the commission’s specific allegations.

He categorically denied using a racial slur during a private conversation in 2007.

Two men who allegedly were part of that conversation – John Paterno and Milo Lick – provided statements saying they never heard Hecht use the racial slur on that occasion or at any other time.

Hecht also denied allegations that he exchanged cash for sex during the years 2000-02 with a man listed as John M. in the commission’s statement of charges. The encounters were alleged to have taken place at Hecht’s office on North Pearl Street.

“I had no office on North Pearl Street at that time,” the judge said in his response. Hecht said he used the mailing address of that office, which is owned by his friend Colleen Allen Grady, for business purposes but did not get a key there until June 2003.

Grady, an attorney, submitted a sworn declaration, saying Hecht “did not have unlimited access to the office until he rented space from me in 2002/2003.”

Hecht also denied exchanging money for sex with Joseph John Hesketh IV in 1999 and 2000 and threatening to kill Hesketh last summer.

Hesketh, an admitted user of illegal drugs, told The News Tribune and Tacoma police he traded money for sex with Hecht at his law office on North Pearl Street and that Hecht threatened to kill him during an encounter downtown in August.

“I did not even know Joseph Hesketh or his identity prior to 8/31/2008 and further that I did not make any threats to Joseph Hesketh,” Hecht said in his response.

The judge noted again that he did not work out of that office during that time and pointed out that Hesketh provided details about the office to police that could not have been true, including that he remembered seeing a wooden floor in a hallway. Contractor Chris Spadafore said in a sworn declaration that the floor was tiled until he replaced it with solid oak flooring in 2005.

Hecht admitted that he confronted Hesketh on the street last summer after hearing that Hesketh had been talking about him, but “I made no threats.” A man named Joseph Pfeiffer was with Hecht at the time and supported his version of events.

The judge also denied exchanging legal advice for sex with a man named Brian C. in 1996 and stealing the campaign signs of former Judge Sergio Armijo, the man he defeated in the August 2008 election to become judge.

Hecht also denied threatening Albert Milliken, as alleged by the commission. The judge said he tried to engage Milliken in a conversation by calling into his downtown antique store one day, but, “I never made any threats, gestures or in any way harassed him.”

Finally, the judge denied exchanging money for sex with Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer told police and The News Tribune that Hecht paid him for sex on numerous occasions, allegations he denied in a sworn declaration submitted with Hecht’s response.

Pfeiffer said in his declaration that he and Hecht had sex but that money was not exchanged.

“Throughout this time, I felt pressured into saying things about Michael, which I now regret saying,” Pfeiffer said.

The commission is expected to schedule a public hearing to discuss the charges and Hecht’s response this summer, said Reiko Callner, the commission’s executive director.

The commission could recommend to the Washington State Supreme Court that Hecht be removed from the bench if it finds he violated the Code of Judicial Conduct.

Hecht, who took a voluntary leave from his job earlier this year, also is charged with two crimes: patronizing a prostitute for allegedly buying sex from Pfeiffer and felony harassment for allegedly threatening Hesketh.

He’s pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial in June.

Adam Lynn: 253-597-8644 adam.lynn@thenewstribune.com