Former Judge Barred From Bench After Stealing 97-Year-Old Neighbor's Savings

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - California regulators have barred a former judge from serving on the bench again after he pleaded guilty to stealing from his 97-year-old neighbor, who had trusted him with her life savings.

The Commission on Judicial Performance formally barred Paul Seeman on Monday from ever serving as a judicial officer in the state. Seeman previously agreed to a lifetime ban as part of a plea deal with Alameda County prosecutors.

Seeman was also sentenced in October to five years of probation and ordered to pay back $5,600 he stole after pleading guilty to one count of elder abuse and one count of perjury.

Prosecutors say Seeman began siphoning money from the late Anne Nutting after gaining power of attorney over her finances while sitting as an Alameda County superior court judge.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.