Court Reinstates Molestation Charges Against Ousted Judge

An appeals court has reinstated felony charges against a former Superior Court judge accused of sexually molesting an attorney in his Van Nuys office, the Los Angeles district attorney’s office said Tuesday.

Stanley Samuel Feinstein, 61, of Chatsworth was originally charged with felony counts of false imprisonment and sexual battery, but those charges were reduced to misdemeanors at his preliminary hearing June 27.

“A motion was filed to reinstate the felony charges because the judge did not rule correctly,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Bill Seki said. “A judge reviewed the transcript and case law and made the appropriate ruling.”

The felony charges were reinstated last week by the 2nd District Court of Appeal, he said.

Feinstein faces four years in prison if convicted of the felony charges versus two years in jail for misdemeanor charges, Seki said.

The charges allege that he fondled a 40-year-old lawyer during a visit in his chambers March 28. The woman testified at the preliminary hearing that as she was about to leave his office, Feinstein told her to close the door because he had something else to tell her. After she did, he slammed her body against a wall and fondled her, the woman testified.

State officials fired Feinstein in May, saying he had refused to cooperate with an internal investigation.