BOSTON (AP) - A Massachusetts judge charged with helping an immigrant escape a federal agent waiting to arrest him has rejected a plea deal offered by federal prosecutors.

The Boston Herald reports that federal prosecutors offered the deal to Judge Shelley Joseph and a retired court officer, who have both pleaded not guilty to charges including of obstruction of justice. Federal prosecutors say they helped a man from the Dominican Republic slip out a back door of Newton District Court while a federal immigration officer was waiting for him.

According to a court memo, both defendants were extended plea offers. The memo says: “Defendant Joseph rejected the offer extended to her.” The retired court officer has not responded to the offer.

Terms were not disclosed.

Joseph’s lawyer has called the case “absolutely political.”

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Information from: Boston Herald, http://www.bostonherald.com

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