PITTSBURGH — A former Western Pennsylvania judge pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting women who appeared before him in court.

Ross Cioppa, 70, a former district judge, plead guilty Thursday to two counts of indecent assault and two counts of official oppression, all misdemeanors.

Common Pleas Judge Jill Rangos sentenced Cioppa to four years of probation and six months of house arrest.

Cioppa says he was guilty of hugging and fondling the women, but that a medication he was taking might have contributed to the behavior.