(Source: CBS 5 News) Lester Pearce, the brother of recalled Sen. Russell Pearce, has been formally censured and fined $1,500 for campaigning for his brother while serving as a justice of the peace.The brother of a former state Senate president has been formally censured and fined $1,500 for campaigning for his brother while serving as a justice of the peace.
Lester Pearce, the brother of recalled Sen. Russell Pearce, did not contest the Commission on Judicial Conduct's conclusion that he engaged in impermissible political activity while a judge.
Pearce did not challenge that he was with his niece in early September 2011 as she gathered petition signatures for an opponent of Russell Pearce or that he spoke at a Legislative District 19 meeting on Sept. 15 in which he voiced support for his brother and in opposition to the recall election.
Lester Pearce, 67, engaged in the political activities during a November 2011 recall election that ended with Russell Pearce's recall.
The commission found that the original minutes of that meeting had been altered to read that "Lester Pearce spoke about the Constitution and the role of judges."
Pearce signed the formal agreement of censure on Oct. 19.
Lester Pearce was justice of the peace in Mesa from 1997 until he resigned in April.
Copyright 2012 CBS 5 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
