Judge offered light sentences for sex.

What do you take this headline to mean? Was the judge convicted of some illegal forms of sex and offered light sentences? Did the judge barter sex with the defendants in exchange for the defendants receiving a lighter prison sentence? Did the judge write humorous annecdotes and offer them to readers in exchange for sex?

I’ve been dealing with the English-speaking world long enough now to determine the middle choice is most likely correct; however, when I first read the headline, several different images came to mind.

And, by the way, it was a little of the first choice as well–the judge earned himself three years in prison for offering the second choice. I guess he’ll have plenty of time for writing light verse to offer to his cell buddies, but alas, the article says he will most likely serve his sentence in solitary confinement.