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MISSOULA- A former Butte city judge has pleaded guilty in federal court this morning to a felony charge of bribery.

Steven J. Kambich and his attorney both declined to comment prior to his Friday morning appearance in a Missoula federal courtroom.

Kambich is accused of taking cash and checks in exchange for dismissing traffic violations and other misdemeanor tickets.

Court records say the FBI got a tip in March 2008 that Kambich was accepting bribes. On July 27, 2011 he reportedly admitted to federal agents that he took money on 10 occasions in exchange for dismissing tickets. He said he was paid between $100 and $300 each time he dismissed a ticket.

According to the FBI, Kambich's financial records reflected unexplained cash deposits into his bank accounts in 2008 in the amount of approximately $13,900.

Kambich resigned from his position as a city judge on Dec. 8, citing personal reasons.

- information from Breanna Roy