Judge convicted of shooting ex-boyfriend in head while he slept

Sonya McKnight, elected as a Magisterial District Judge in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in 2015 as a Democrat, handled minor legal matters like traffic violations and civil disputes. Her tenure was marred by controversy, culminating in a high-profile criminal conviction. In February 2024, McKnight shot her ex-boyfriend, Michael McCoy, in the head while he slept, leaving him blind in one eye. Convicted of attempted murder and aggravated assault in April 2025, she faces up to 60 years in prison, with sentencing set for May 28, 2025. She was suspended without pay in November 2023 for judicial misconduct, including violating probation from a 2020 case involving her son’s traffic stop, where she was acquitted of criminal charges.

McKnight’s history includes a 2019 incident where she shot her estranged husband, ruled self-defense, allowing her to remain a judge. Further allegations in 2023 accused her of ethical violations like misusing staff time, promoting products on social media while identifying as a judge, and failing to recuse herself from cases where her impartiality was questioned. These issues led to her second suspension in three years. After her 2024 arrest, the Judicial Conduct Board sought to revoke her probation for not reporting the criminal investigation, potentially stripping her title.

McKnight’s case drew significant attention due to her judicial role and the severity of the crime. She was moved to Cumberland County Prison post-conviction due to her Dauphin County ties. Her defense argued insufficient evidence, but the jury, sourced from outside Dauphin County to avoid bias, found her guilty.