By JUAN CARLOS LLORCA
Associated Press

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - A retired judge accused of funneling bribes to former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson pleaded no contest Thursday to misdemeanor misconduct under a plea agreement that dismisses four felony charges.

The deal for the 67-year-old Michael Murphy marks the end of a high-profile case that shocked the judiciary two years ago when prosecutors implied the bribes were part of a long-running practice for picking judges in southern New Mexico.

Under the deal, Murphy was given a 364-day suspended jail sentence, ordered to do 250 hours of community service

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