By that point, Thomas had already taken a voluntary leave from his role overseeing the Somerset County District Attorney's Office, but continued receiving his pay for his $185,000-a-year job. "The bill provides needed uniformity and efficiency to current law and for those who discharge the duties of the office. A well-known defense attorney will represent Thomas in a Cambria County criminal case paid with taxpayer dollars. Member, Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council, Somerset County, 2017-. "The District Attorney's Office, although located in the courthouse, is not under county commissioners' supervision, nor is it part of the . Thomas has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and has said he plans to defend himself at trial. There was a problem saving your notification. The DA's Office also maintains court records that are open to the public. "We are here today to announce one of the largest drug busts in the history of Somerset County," Acting Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar said during a . In a suit filed Tuesday, a Pittsburgh law firm alleges the state Constitution protects elected district attorneys from having their pay "diminished" while in office. Name Somerset County State Attorney Suggest Edit Address 30500 Prince William Street Princess Anne , Maryland , 21853 Phone 410-651-3333 Fax 410-651-3453 Map of Somerset County State Attorney Separate fees are paid for pleas or trials, the fee schedule shows. Creany said Friday he was already taking steps to prepare for Thomas trial, with initial questionnaires already sent to 200 potential jurors about the possibility of serving in the case. Though it's unclear whether that correspondenceis part of pending proceedings against Jeff Thomas by the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, some legal experts believe it could be deemed inappropriate. David Hurst is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Attorneys from the state Office of Attorney General who are prosecuting sexual assault and strangulation charges against Thomas told the judge Friday they had no objection to defense attorneys receiving more time. You may not use this site for the purposes of furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the FCRA. 0:36. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. All Rights Reserved. Police: Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas showed up uninvited, raped Windber woman, Hearing rescheduled against Somerset County DA Jeffrey Thomas. 420 into law that amended the state's county codes concerning qualification for the office of district attorney. Office of State's Attorney 30500 Prince William St., Princess Anne, MD 21853 . Somerset County Salary Board members, who alsomet Tuesday, voted to pay Metzgar the same as what was being paid to Thomas, which is a little more than $7,000 per pay period. Address, Phone Number, and Fax Number for Somerset County District Attorney, a District Attorney Office, at Court Street, Skowhegan ME. Lawyer Bob Davis Jr., who is based out of Harrisburg, has served in the past asbar association counsel in West Virginia, assistantcounsel forthe State Bar of Georgiaand deputy chief and acting chief of the disciplinary board in Pennsylvania. Thomas was elected as Somerset County's district attorney in 2019, but cannot oversee the office or operate as an attorney due to a state law and the fact his law license is suspended. The delay also means that, barring a resolution to the case prior to trial, the Thomas case would linger into the election year for his county district attorneys office seat. His attorney, Ryan Tutera of Pittsburgh, returned a phone call requesting comment on the letter, but had no comment on the matter. Thomas's total pay for 2021 was scheduled to be $185,665. Act 88 of 2021, signed into law by Pennsylvania Gov. Itprecludes an individual from continuing to serve as district attorney without an active law license. Somerset County District Attorney - Somerset, PA. Suite 40 111 E Union St Somerset, PA 15501 - 1416. 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Though thedisciplinary board does not issue information about the specifics of why his license was suspended, Thomas has beenon a leave of absence since state police brought sexual assault-related charges against himin September. William Cline of Somerset, a former county assistant district attorney in the early 2000s, and Sydney Bender of Patton, who is an associate attorney at the Law Office of Michael A. Sossong in Ebensburg, and has been a licensed attorney since 2015, are to be paid $32,000 annually. Share this page on your favorite Social network. The order prohibits Thomas performing any legal actions in the courthouse and basically reduced his presence to that of an observer. But the Somerset County Courthouse is a county building. Thomas' law license was suspended Oct. 27 by the state Supreme Court following a petition by the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board's Office of Disciplinary Counsel, which reviews attorney conduct issues. . Find 12 external resources related to Somerset County District Attorney. Thomas was elected as Somerset Countys district attorney in 2019, but cannot oversee the office or operate as an attorney due to a state law and the fact his law license is suspended indefinitely. In the case of disbarment, avacancy will be created that would be filled under current state law. David Hurst is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Somerset County District Court: 410-845-4700: Somerset County Parole & Probation: 410-651-2211: . According to court dockets, the rule to show cause means that a lawyer must respond to the disciplinary arm of the state Supreme Courton an inquiry ofa matter brought before it, usually it in the form of a complaint about a lawyer's conduct. Middlesex County District Attorney's Office prosecutes crimes in the following cities and towns: Acton, Arlington, Ashby, Ashland, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Billerica . First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Follow him on Twitter @TDDavidHurst and Instagram @TDDavidHurst. Schaffer said she could not discuss that process involving Thomas due to privacy guidelines but that it was "deemed that he qualified," saying she was unable to elaborate. Independent Court-Appointed Conflict Counsel Somerset County Sep 2013 - Mar 2020 6 years 7 . Dickey also filed a motion to postpone trial until a future term of court, online court records show. The first assistant district attorney would become the acting district attorney pending reinstatement of the elected district attorney, or until the end of the elected district attorneys current term. Suspended Somerset DA's sexual assault trial continued to 2023. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Ellich on Twitter at @dajudye. He is charged with rape, indecent assault, strangulation, simple assault and criminal trespass. You have permission to edit this article. The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General received jurisdiction this week to prosecute the domestic assault case, as well as the separate rape case filed a week later against Jeffrey Thomas. The law, identified as Act 88 of 2021, will more than likely mean that Somerset County District Attorney Jeff Thomas will stop receiving a paycheck from his present employer. The nine-page filing seeks a declaratory judgment from the Somerset County Court of Common Pleas. Jeff Thomas is on a leave of absence amid a series of charges, including rape, that were filed by statepolice Sept. 18. Find Court Records related to Somerset County District Attorney. The beginning: Election 2019 provides a few upsets, other surprises, Unfolding: Attorney general's office amends charges against Somerset County district attorney, You and yours: Why Pa. municipalities, schools must make agendas public prior to meetings. Somerset County's salary board Commissioners Gerald Walker, Colleen Dawson and Pamela Tokar-Ickes, as well as then-Treasurer Donna Matsko-Schmitt halted his paychecks after the law was signed. Windber police charged Amy Thomas that same day with simple assault and harassment for attacking her husband, leaving scratches on his arm, according to the criminal complaint. Court-appointed Senior Judge Timothy Creany granted Thomas attorneys motion to delay the case until Jan. 9, granting them time to obtain an expert medical report they said will be essential to defending him in court. Sheriff's Office Somerset County Jail. Haft wrote that despite the actions taken by the disciplinary board and county officials, Thomas remains the duly elected district attorney of Somerset County, and he was neither impeached nor did he resign the only permissible reasons to cut his pay, Haft argued. Though the letter was initially writtento Seger, the Windber judge's name is manually scratched out and replaced with a handwritten "Mankamyer," which appears to refer to Judge Susan Mankamyerof Boswell. About Us Contact Us All rights reserved. Chance of rain 70%. "Due to the current circumstances surrounding the Somerset County district attorney, my wife is now serving as the acting DA," Metzgar wrote. Sen. Bill No. Sep. 8SOMERSET, Pa. Suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas is suing the county for suspending his salary and benefits. Jeffrey Thomas, 36, faces a preliminary hearing Oct. 19 in the rape case. Somerset County District Attorney's Office Mar 2020 - Oct 2021 1 year 8 months. And it could immediately affect the pay of Somerset District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas. The bill requires a district attorney to hold an active law license while in office. What:State Supreme Court suspends Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas' law license, Latest:The latest on Somerset County DA: prohibited from any legal action in courthouse, protection order withdrawn, Facing:Attorney general's office amends charges against Somerset County district attorney, State Sen. Pat Stefano (R-Fayette/Somerset/Westmoreland), who voted for the bill, said basically the law is in a place of "all procedural. Follow Judy D.J. On Tuesday, the Somerset County Commissioners acknowledged Thomas's suspension from his role as district attorney and the county salary board approved halting his paycheck and benefits because of the suspension based on a new state law. Of furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the...., PA 15501 - 1416 Somerset DA 's sexual assault trial continued to 2023 of the charges and has he. Furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the FCRA office Mar 6. @ TDDavidHurst and Instagram @ TDDavidHurst Attorney without an active law license while in.... While in office Thomas, 36, faces a preliminary Hearing Oct. 19 in the case of disbarment avacancy! 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