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A Maui District Family Court judge has reportedly stepped down after being charged Tuesday with tampering with a government record.
The state attorney general filed a complaint Tuesday with the Wailuku District Court, alleging Judge Mimi DesJardins altered 10 court documents on Feb. 17.
The complaint states that DesJardins "did knowingly and falsely make, complete, or alter, or knowingly made a false entry in a written instrument," namely 10 judicial determinations of probable cause for a warrantless arrest.
The complaint does not provide any details of the alleged crime.
Generally, without a warrant for a person’s arrest, a judge must approve such a probable cause document within 48 hours of an arrest. Otherwise, the person is released from police custody.
A police officer’s affidavit detailing the alleged crime is usually attached to a judicial determination to support the extended restraint of the arrested person.
DesJardins’ attorney, Philip Lowenthal, and state Judiciary representatives could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
KHON-TV reported she stepped down from her post Tuesday.
DesJardins began serving as a judge with the Maui District Family Court on Feb. 28, 2012, the state Judiciary’s website says.
Since 2006, she served as a per diem district judge until her appointment by Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald as a full-time judge.
Before her Family Court appointment, the 51-year-old was in private practice, handling family law and criminal cases since 1997, the Judiciary website says. She served as a deputy corporation counsel for Maui County (1996-1997), a deputy public defender (1991-1996) and a deputy prosecutor (1991).
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