Judge Pleads Guilty To Bribery

An associate judge in northern Missouri has pleaded guilty in federal court to soliciting a bribe. Jeffrey Sayre of Milan, who has served in the 9th Judicial Circuit in Sullivan County since January of 1999, admitted that he solicited a $10,000 bribe from William Lance May, a defendant in his courtroom. May was facing various state drug and firearms violations. After May paid the bribe, Sayre issued an order to suppress the evidence against May and discharge his case. Sayre also admitted that he attempted to obstruct justice by conspiring to kill May after he learned May was cooperating with federal authorities. Sayre could be subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000.