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Federal Judge Arrested In Miami-Dade

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A federal judge is under arrest after an alleged domestic dispute in Miami-Dade County. And he spoke out for several minutes at his first appearance in bond court on Wednesday morning.

Timothy Maher, 51, is accused of two counts aggravated assault with a firearm, child abuse without great bodily harm and resisting an officer without violence.

The allegations were made by Maher's ex-girlfriend who he had lived with for 3 years and 11 months and who is the mother of their son who they have joint custody of. The incident happened just after 8:30 Tuesday night when she was picking up their son at the Judge's El Portal home.

"It is astonishing that one person could make such accusations that are so unfounded," said Maher. "It is embarrassing to me and career threatening. The accusations against me are false and fictitious."  He said the ex girlfriend had a history of calling police to the home.

"Last night," he said, "I did not point a gun at anyone." He said the ex girlfriend had repeatedly called DCF to the home 5 times to make false allegations.

He asked the Judge in bond court to consider whether someone of his stature would commit such a crime. He said he had been a federal judge for 10 years and served 15 additional years with the federal government with distinction. He also said he goes to church every Sunday. We learned in court that Maher has no criminal history.

According to a police report when the ex girlfriend arrived at the home, Maher came outside with his son on his left arm and a holstered pistol on his right hip. He reportedly got close to her and shined a flashlight in her face and said "I'm going to show you what pain is about."

She said the child started crying and she called 911. When she was driving away, she said Maher came outside the home with a long barrel gun and pointed a red laser at the back of her car. When police arrived they had trouble initially making contact with Maher who they said was hiding behind a wall.

After an hour during which El Portal police set up a perimeter, police say Maher was persuaded to come outside. When an officer grabbed his right arm, he broke away and tried to flee but was subdued by an officer and taken into custody and transported to jail.

Maher has been ordered to stay away from his ex girlfriend and their son. Bond was set at $13,000. He was released from the TGK Correctional Center.

On Wednesday afternoon, at least two El Portal police officers stood guard at the Judge's home, telling reporters that no one could go on his property. They guarded the home after Maher was released on bond.

Neighbors told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that they did not want to say anything on camera but they did say that police had been called to the home several times before.

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