Fresno County judge under investigation for possible misconduct

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Fresno County judge is under investigation for possible misconduct that could get him removed from his position.

The Commission on Judicial Performance is looking into whether Judge James Petrucelli acted improperly in helping a friend who was arrested for felony domestic violence last year.

Investigators say Judge Petrucelli called the Fresno County jail and ordered deputies to release his friend without bail. They say he also contacted a defense attorney to help his friend. The friend ended up agreeing to a plea deal in which the charges were reduced to misdemeanors.

Judge Petrucelli is supposed to respond to the accusations against him within two weeks.

Click or tap to download court documents http://bit.ly/1w1l7kX and http://bit.ly/1CiWwck.