Ex-judge sentenced to decades in prison for shooting ex-boyfriend

In a troubling case that surfaced in February 2024, Sonya McKnight, a former magistrate judge in Pennsylvania, was found guilty of shooting her ex-boyfriend while he slept. This incident, which left the victim wounded in the head, occurred at his home, where McKnight had previously lived. The relationship between the two had ended, and authorities reported that the ex-boyfriend had repeatedly asked her to leave. During the trial, prosecutors portrayed McKnight as a jealous partner who reacted violently to being asked to move out. Though the ex-boyfriend could not definitively identify the shooter, he testified that McKnight was the only other person present in the residence at the time of the incident. The jury’s deliberation took only two hours before convicting her of attempted homicide and aggravated assault. Following the shooting, McKnight expressed her innocence and indicated that her legal team would seek an appeal against the verdict. Prior to the shooting incident, McKnight had been elected in 2015 as a judge in Dauphin County. However, her judicial career faced scrutiny and significant challenges when she was suspended without pay in November 2023. This suspension stemmed from allegations of misconduct relating to prior traffic violations involving her son. While facing these issues, she was acquitted of the criminal charges associated with those traffic stops. McKnight’s conviction for the shooting marks a drastic fall from grace for someone who held a position of authority and previously represented judicial standards. In court during her sentencing, the presiding judge expressed disbelief at McKnight’s lack of remorse for her actions, which contributed to a significant emotional impact on the courtroom proceedings. Ultimately, McKnight's prison sentence will range from 13 1/2 to 30 years, reflecting the severity of her crimes. As she prepares to appeal her conviction, this case raises concerns about domestic violence, the responsibilities of individuals in positions of power, and the societal implications of such violent actions among former partners.