The county code expressly provides that all district attorneys receive the same compensation, which is $1,000 lower than that paid court of common pleas judges in their judicial district. The changes were approved by members of the county salary board Tuesday. The District Attorney heads the Skowhegan Prosecutor's Office, directing the attorneys who work for the office. Police: Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas showed up uninvited, raped Windber woman, Hearing rescheduled against Somerset County DA Jeffrey Thomas. 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Elk, Fayette, Mifflin, Montgomery, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, and Wyoming counties. Amy Thomas faces charges of simple assault and harassment. Tom Wolf's desk as early as Monday. The county commissioners promoted Thomas Leiden of Ebensburg, aformer Cambria County solicitor and assistant district attorney, from part-time district attorney in Somerset County to full-time assistant district attorney effective Tuesday at $59,703 annually. The DA's Office also maintains court records that are open to the public. It will assure the citizens that the integrity expected in the office of District Attorney is maintained," Yaw said. "The bill provides needed uniformity and efficiency to current law and for those who discharge the duties of the office. But the defenses approved request for a continuance enabled the delay to occur. David Hurst, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa. 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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. Somerset County District Attorney Contact Information. Suspended Somerset DA's sexual assault trial continued to 2023. 420 into law that amended the state's county codes concerning qualification for the office of district attorney. Business Directory; Dispatch Log & Jail Bookings; Somerset County Bicentennial; Activities; Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas repeatedly contacted a woman and then entered her Windber home uninvited on Saturday before raping her, according to police. David Hurst is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. . Nov. 17, 2021, Gov. Wess Garner - State's Attorney Kendra Hayward - Deputy State's Attorney Kristen Boston - Assistant State's Attorney Brittany Collins - Assistant State's Attorney. To qualify for public-paid representation, an individual first must file an application with the public defender's office in the county where he or she is charged, outlining his or her financial status, Cambria County Public Defender Maribeth Schaffer said. 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. Sen. Bill No. Updated: 08/03/2006. All rights reserved. She is tobe paid approximately$185,000 annually, which is what was the salary for District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas, whose position has been suspended because of a new state law, known as Act 88,on Nov. 26. Do you plan to save or spend your 2022 income tax refund. Find Court Records related to Somerset County Prosecuting Attorney. The commonwealth filed a petition to take jurisdiction of Amy Thomas' case Sept. 28. All Rights Reserved. You may not use this site for the purposes of furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the FCRA. It is expected to be on Gov. The Somerset County Prosecuting Attorney, located in Somerville, NJ, is an agency that prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of the Somerville government. Address and Phone Number for Somerset County District Attorney, a District Attorney Office, at East Union Street, Somerset PA. Name Somerset County District Attorney Suggest Edit Address 111 East Union Street Somerset , Pennsylvania , 15501 Phone 814-445-1456 Map of Somerset County District Attorney Wolf has the option of signing the bill into law, vetoing the bill or letting it ride for 10 days at which point it will automatically become Pennsylvania law. Ellich contributed to this article. Thomas was charged with sexually assaulting an acquaintance, a Windber woman, inside her home last fall. The Daily American obtained a copy of the letter from the county by filing a Right-to-Know request. The nine-page filing seeks a declaratory judgment from the Somerset County Court of Common Pleas. About Us Contact Us (Interim State's Attorney, Sept. 1, 2017 to Jan. 7, 2019). All rights reserved. Roles are changing in the Somerset County District Attorney's Office, which is welcoming some new personnel. Sep. 8SOMERSET, Pa. Suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas is suing the county for suspending his salary and benefits. The District Attorney heads the Somerville Prosecutor's Office, directing the attorneys who work for the office. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. By Todd Berkey tberkey@tribdem.com. "I'm looking forward to working with the new hires to fill out the team.". He discussed, however, the types of conduct that cancome under the commissions purview. In a suit filed Tuesday, a Pittsburgh law. The act requires district attorneys to hold an active law license while in office. Jeff Thomas is on a leave of absence amid a series of charges, including rape, that were filed by statepolice Sept. 18. Using the official letterhead of his . Thomasdecided to go ona leave of absence to prepare for his case after state police brought sexual assault-related charges against himin September, according to his attorney,Ryan Tutera of Pittsburgh. "So it could be argued that if a public official takes an action that financially benefits a relative, that can be construed as a financial benefit as a result the family member not (having)to incur legal expenses, pay a fine, something along that line.. It is not known if the letter, which was released to The Tribune-Democrat on Friday by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, is part of the criminal investigation into an allegation that Jeffrey Thomas raped a Windber woman inside her home on Sept. 18. A bill introduced by a Lycoming County Republican state senator in early 2021 after a northern Pennsylvania prosecutor was charged with unrelated sex crimes was signed into law in November 2021, requiring elected prosecutors to hold active law licenses while in office. Find 8 external resources related to Somerset County Prosecuting Attorney. Assistant State's Attorney, 2011-15, and Deputy State's Attorney, 2015-17, Somerset County. Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas was arrested Wednesday after police say he raped a woman. After the notification and the responses, the disciplinary board mayschedule a hearing on the matter. On Oct. 27,the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania listed the law license of District Attorney Jeff Thomas as temporarily suspended,but did not name the cause for that action. That step will now have to be conducted again in early November as a preliminary step toward seating a panel of 12 jurors in January, he said. The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office is committed to fulfilling these constitutional and statutory mandates as well as strengthening law enforcement's relations with the public, enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Somerset County, ensuring the rights of crime victims, to be treated with fairness, compassion and respect, are High 63F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. By doing soThomas has said he is not guilty of the crime. Rain likely. 410-651-9225: Somerset County State's Attorney's Office: 410-651-3333: Maryland Judiciary Case Search. 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. Information found on CountyOffice.org is strictly for informational purposes and does not construe legal, financial or medical advice. Lurie also noted the delay will also help because a separate witness for their defense will be traveling overseas due to a sudden death in that persons family. Address, Phone Number, and Fax Number for Somerset County State Attorney, a District Attorney Office, at Prince William Street, Princess Anne MD. All Rights Reserved. A "rule to show cause" has been in place for Thomas since Sept. 30. Police said he strangled and sexually assaulted the woman before she was able to escape his grasp and only agreed to leave after she promised not to contact the police. Attorneys Ryan Tutera and Eric Jackson Lurie did not go into detail in court Friday about the specifics of the medical review. Simple assault and harassment charges. You can now search cases from Circuit Court and District Court online. Currently, there is no requirement that a person elected to the office of district attorney possess an active license to practice law at the time of entering office, which SB 420 will require, Sen. Yaw said in a statement on his website. You have permission to edit this article. Address, Phone Number, and Fax Number for Somerset County District Attorney, a District Attorney Office, at Court Street, Skowhegan ME. Somerset County President Judge D. Gregory Geary said he anticipates reaching out to the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts to assign an out-of-county-judge to oversee this matter, too once the case reaches the point that it is necessary for a judge to become involved. You may not use this site for the purposes of furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the FCRA. Their review included messages sent between Thomas and the alleged victim and conversations sent from the womans phone to other people. Follow him on Twitter @TDDavidHurst and Instagram @TDDavidHurst. A letter to District Judge Bill Seger of Windber indicates that Somerset County District Attorney Jeff Thomas attempted to intervene in his wife's case. Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas stands outside the Somerset County Courthouse on Oct. 1, 2021. Thomas' lawsuit is filed against Somerset County, home to the salary board that took action against him and the offices that comprise the board, including the commissioners' and treasurer's offices. Ellich on Twitter at @dajudye. Act 88 of 2021, signed into law by Pennsylvania Gov. The law also provides that in a case of temporary suspension, such as the sanction Thomas received, the first assistant will act as district attorney if willing, qualified and able. A Westmoreland County woman who said she witnessed the act during a FaceTime video call with Amy Thomas that night contends otherwise. The ethics commission deals with public officials who have rules and regulations they need to follow. Maloney, Maeghan District Attorney 207-474-2423 Maeghan is a graduate of Swarthmore and Harvard Law School. The letter bears Thomas' signature under his office's letterhead and is dated Sept. 13 before the state Office of . Prosecutors dismissed the idea, saying that only private information such as medical information or a social security number has been redacted and should remain that way for privacy reasons. Mankamyer was out of the office when contacted. Mostly crickets in Somerset County. "Due to the current circumstances surrounding the Somerset County district attorney, my wife is now serving as the acting DA," Metzgar wrote. The bill clarifies what happens in a case of suspension. He said Jeff Thomas' letter could have been part of what drew the attention of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which has shown interest in the Somerset County district attorney. County solicitor Michael Barbera saidthe suspension of Thomas's pay and all benefits, including insurance, took effectNov. 26 when First Assistant District Attorney Molly Metzgar was sworn in as the acting district attorney. The bill addresses what happens to district attorneys who havetheir law licensesuspended or become disbarred. get driving directions from your location, US Department of Justice - US Attorneys Website. Windber police allege that Amy Thomas scratched her husband and jumped onto his car to prevent him from leaving their home on Sept. 12. Popularity:#2 of 67 District Attorney Offices in Pennsylvania#198 in District Attorney Offices. About Us Contact Us Separate fees are paid for pleas or trials, the fee schedule shows. Somerset County Solicitor Michael Barbera referred to Sen. Bill No. Dickey also filed a motion to postpone trial until a future term of court, online court records show. As with any pending litigation, I cannot comment on it," Barbera said, "but obviously, the county will be filing a response.". 420 when asked if the county was going to address the pay for Thomas since he has been shut out of any legal work in the courthouse and his office until the criminal case against him is resolved. 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. Court records show Cambria County President Judge Norman A. Krumenacker III issued an order naming Blair County defense attorney Thomas Dickey to represent the suspended prosecutor in the domestic case against him. 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