Los Angeles Times

November 15, 1986

Section: MN-Main News

Judge, Charged With Bribery, Tells Wife, Kills Himself in Yard

LANSING, Mich. A Michigan Court of Appeals judge charged Friday with taking a $20,000 bribe returned to his home to tell his wife, walked into his backyard and shot himself to death, authorities said.

S. Jerome Bronson , 56, was arraigned Friday afternoon before Ingham County Judge Thomas Brown on charges that he accepted a $20,000 bribe in one case and conspired to accept a $20,000 bribe in another case for a favorable ruling.

Each felony charge carries a maximum $5,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison.

Bronson had been on the court since 1969 and just last week was reelected to another six-year term on the 18-member court.

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