Judge convicted for shooting ex-boyfriend while he slept

In Pennsylvania, Sonya McKnight, a magistrate judge, was convicted for shooting her ex-boyfriend, Michael McCoy, in the head while he slept on February 10, 2024. McKnight, who had lived with McCoy, faced charges of attempted homicide and aggravated assault after prosecutors argued that she acted out of jealousy when asked to leave following the end of their relationship. The trial included testimony from McCoy, who claimed that he could only hear McKnight's voice at the time of the incident. The jury deliberated for two hours before returning a guilty verdict on both counts, sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2024, where she faces up to 60 years in prison. McKnight, an elected judge since 2016, was suspended without pay following the allegations, with a previous misconduct case involving a traffic stop related to her son. Her defense claimed McCoy could not identify her as the shooter, but the jury found sufficient evidence to convict her, paralleling earlier incidents in her life, including a self-defense case from 2019 when she shot her estranged husband but faced no charges. This conviction marks a significant moment in the judicial conduct of elected officials, raising questions about accountability and the implications of personal relationships within the judicial system.