Republican judge admits he's a serial panty stealer — but won't plead guilty to it

A judge in Long Island, New York confessed to stealing several "soiled" pairs of his neighbor's underwear on multiple occasions — but nevertheless entered a "not guilty" plea in court.

ABC 7-NY reported Friday that Suffolk County District Judge Robert Cicale, a Republican from the Long Island town of Islip, was removed from the bench and faces up to 15 years in prison for the underwear burglary.

A married father of three, Cicale admitted to stealing underwear owned by his 23-year-old neighbor that worked from him when he was the town attorney. He said he was acting on "urges" that led him to do so.

Around 9 A.M. on Thursday, Cicale was arrested after breaking and entering into his neighbor's house that she shares with her parents when she was home alone. She woke upon hearing the door open, called out "Hello?" and then called her mother when she recognized the district judge.

"This is highly disturbing," Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said of Cicale's arrest. "This is an individual who swore to uphold the law. He violated it in a very serious way."

Sini went on to say that Cicale was arrested and is being held on $50,000 bond to show that "no one is above the law," and that he and his office will "prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law."