Judge cleared in case of condom-filled acorns

HARRISBURG, A central Pennsylvania judge who gave two women condom-stuffed acorns has been cleared of violating judicial conduct standards.

The incident Preview:

District judge cited for passing out acorns stuffed with condoms

A district judge from Intercourse was cited for allegedly approaching women near the state Capitol and handing out acorns he had hollowed out and stuffed with condoms.

Isaac H. Stoltzfus, a district judge for more than 18 years, told Pennsylvania Capitol Police the whole thing was meant as a prank, officials said.

"An individual was handing out acorns to some women who were offended when they discovered the contents in the acorn included a condom," said Edward Myslewicz, a spokesman for the Department of General Services.

The two women, who had been walking in a shady, tree-line area near the Capitol known as the Soldiers Grove, called police.

"Upon receiving this complaint, Capitol Police did go to the Soldiers Grove, where they found the suspect, who admitted doing it as a joke," Myslewicz said.

Myslewicz identified the suspect as Stoltzfus.

The incident happened on Sept. 21.

Police cited Stoltzfus with one count of disorderly conduct, a summary offense.

Stoltzfus was not available for comment.

His staff referred calls to attorney Heidi Eakin, a former first assistant district attorney for Lancaster County. She was not immediately available for comment.

Judge cleared in case of condom-filled acorns

The court ruling issued Wednesday said that while the incident does not qualify as a violation, "it certainly lacks good judgment and must not be repeated."

The court also wrote that Stoltzfus' "preoccupation with acorns is mystifying."

The Judicial Conduct Board filed a complaint against Stoltzfus after he offered the acorns to two women outside the Capitol in September. The hollowed-out nuts contained unwrapped condoms.

Stoltzfus is a judge in the town of Intercourse but was attending a seminar in Harrisburg.

Sacbee