Home | Staff Directory | District Attorney's Office District Attorney's Office Physical Address: 41 Court St. Skowhegan, ME 04976 Phone: 207-474-2423 Fax: 207-474-7407 Display # The charges were filed against her on Sept. 13 the same date listed on Thomass letter. Somerset County Solicitor Michael Barbera referred to Sen. Bill No. Calls for district attorney's resignation? On Oct. 27,the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania listed his license as temporarily suspended. Jeffrey Thomas, 36, faces a preliminary hearing Oct. 19 in the rape case. 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. Last fall, state police charged Thomas with felony sexual assault and other offenses, saying he entered an acquaintances Windber home despite warnings to stay away. As with any pending litigation, I cannot comment on it," Barbera said, "but obviously, the county will be filing a response.". The DA's Office also maintains court records that are open to the public. All Rights Reserved. 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. get driving directions from your location, US Department of Justice - US Attorneys Website, Somerset County Court Records (Pennsylvania), Somerset County Court of Common Pleas Court Records, Somerset County District Attorney Arraignment Records, Somerset County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court Website. Address and Phone Number for Somerset County Prosecuting Attorney, a District Attorney Office, at PO Box 3000, Somerville NJ. The law, identified as. 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. You have permission to edit this article. In Somerville, the District Attorney plays a central role in criminal cases, working with police to decide whether to bring charges and prosecuting the case in court. The lawsuit may be the first legal challenge to the state's District Attorney Modernization Act, which Somerset County officials pointed to as a law they had to comply with when they took the step to suspend Thomas' pay in 2021. High 63F. Thomas was charged with sexually assaulting an acquaintance, a Windber woman, inside her home last fall. The District Attorney heads the Skowhegan Prosecutor's Office, directing the attorneys who work for the office. CountyOffice.org does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The Somerset County Prosecuting Attorney, located in Somerville, NJ, is an agency that prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of the Somerville government. David Hurst is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Thedisciplinary board does not issue information about the specifics of why a license is suspended. 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. You may not use this site for the purposes of furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the FCRA. Sep. 8SOMERSET, Pa. Suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas is suing the county for suspending his salary and benefits. "Please accept this correspondence as the Somerset County District Attorney's Office request to withdraw the pending criminal charges in the above-captioned matter," JeffThomas had written. 420 into law that amended the state's county codes concerning qualification for the office of district attorney. Follow him on Twitter @TDDavidHurst and Instagram @TDDavidHurst. 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. "The District Attorney's Office, although located in the courthouse, is not under county commissioners' supervision, nor is it part of the . The bill clarifies what happens in a case of suspension. State Supreme Court suspends Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas' law license, The latest on Somerset County DA: prohibited from any legal action in courthouse, protection order withdrawn, Attorney general's office amends charges against Somerset County district attorney, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. In Skowhegan, the District Attorney plays a central role in criminal cases, working with police to decide whether to bring charges and prosecuting the case in court. The Somerset County District Attorney, located in Somerset, PA, is an agency that prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of the Somerset government. A preliminary hearing for Amy Thomas has been rescheduled for 1 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Somerset County Courthouse before Judge Mark Bilik of Westmoreland County. ", Rule 1.7 of professional conduct for lawyers states that a "concurrent conflict of interest exists if there is a significant risk that the representation of one or more clients will be materially limited by the lawyer's responsibilities to another client, a former client or a third person or by a personal interest of the lawyer.". 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. The ethics commission deals with public officials who have rules and regulations they need to follow. This letter was later released to other media by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. Also on Tuesday, two new part-time assistant district attorneys were hired to be part of the county's prosecutorialteam. After the notification and the responses, the disciplinary board mayschedule a hearing on the matter. Thomas has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and has said he plans to defend himself at trial. The nine-page filing seeks a declaratory judgment from the Somerset County Court of Common Pleas. Here's the latest for Monday November 29th: COVID-19 omicron variant found in more countries; Flooding in Washington state; Major abortion rights case goes to Supreme Court; Jewish festival of Hannukah begins. About Us Contact Us Creany indicated he will review the conversations in question and listen to each sides arguments before deciding whether those messages are relevant. State rules on criminal procedure dictate that a case against a defendant must go to trial within a year of the date charges were filed in this case, by September. "Ithink that by itself is enough to raise a significant question," Davis said in reference to the letter. 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. Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas was arrested Wednesday after police say he raped a woman. Terms and Conditions. The act requires district attorneys to hold an active law license while in office. SOMERSET, Pa. - Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey L. Thomas sought to have charges against his wife dropped last month, soon after she was accused by Windber police of assaulting. He said the county will review the suit and file a response within the court-mandated 20-day time frame. District Attorney District Attorney's Office 41 Court St. Skowhegan, ME 04976 Ph: 207-474-2423 Fx: 207-474-7407 Staff Directory. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. 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. "It would certainly be no surprise if the office of disciplinarycounsel is looking into it. All rights reserved. Business Directory; Dispatch Log & Jail Bookings; Somerset County Bicentennial; Activities; Somerset County District Attorney's Office Mar 2020 - Oct 2021 1 year 8 months. 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. Windber police allege that Amy Thomas scratched her husband and jumped onto his car to prevent him from leaving their home on Sept. 12. Sheriff's Office Somerset County Jail. Wess Garner - State's Attorney Kendra Hayward - Deputy State's Attorney Kristen Boston - Assistant State's Attorney Brittany Collins - Assistant State's Attorney. Somerset County District Attorney Jeff Thomas is no longer receiving a paycheck for his position. Somerset County District Attorney Contact Information. Please accept this correspondence as the Somerset County District Attorneys Office request to withdraw the pending criminal charges in the above-captioned matter, Jeffrey Thomas wrote in the brief letter, which bears the subject line RE: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Amy L. Thomas.. CountyOffice.org does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). 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. 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. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. 2023 County Office. 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. Tom Wolf's deskas earlyas Monday. 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. The county was served notice of the lawsuit Tuesday, Somerset County Solicitor Michael Barbera said. 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. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. The letter bears Thomas' signature under his office's letterhead and is dated Sept. 13 before the state Office of . Follow Judy D.J. Chance of rain 70%. Suggest Listing His attorney, Ryan Tutera of Pittsburgh, returned a phone call requesting comment on the letter, but had no comment on the matter. 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. 21853Phone:410.651.3333Fax:410.651.3453Attorneys, Wess Garner - State's AttorneyKendra Hayward -Deputy State's AttorneyKristen Boston - Assistant State's AttorneyBrittany Collins- Assistant State's Attorney, Support StaffChild Support Unit:Alice BromleyBrittney Bozman, Circuit Court:Jacki Bowen-Hill - Secretary, District Court:April Howard- Victim Witness Advocate/ParalegalJuvenile Court:Sandy Atkins - Legal Secretary Supervisor, Somerset County Narcotics Task Force:Patti S. Renshaw - Secretary. Tutera has told reporters that Jeffrey Thomas is taking a leave of absence from his post, but not resigning. 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. Privacy Policy Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas arrives for his preliminary hearing at the Somerset County Courthouse on Tuesday, October 19, 2021. David Hurst is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. 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. They cited guidance from the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association in backing their move, including a five-page letter describing the newly passed Act 88 as "constitutional.". Crisfield-Somerset County Airport Advisory Board. The District Attorney heads the Somerville Prosecutor's Office, directing the attorneys who work for the office. Sep. 8SOMERSET, Pa. Suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas is suing the county for suspending his salary and benefits. By Todd Berkey tberkey@tribdem.com. Follow him on Twitter@TDDavidHurstand Instagram@TDDavidHurst. The board consists ofthe commissioners and Somerset County Treasurer Donna Matsko Schmitt. The District Attorney heads the Somerville Prosecutor's Office, directing the attorneys who work for the office. This was granted Oct. 6, a day after Somerset County First Assistant District Attorney Molly Metzgar wrote that she and the attorney general's office agreed that keeping jurisdiction in the county would constitute a conflict of interest. Ellich on Twitter at @dajudye. 2023 County Office. Chance of rain 70%. Elk, Fayette, Mifflin, Montgomery, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, and Wyoming counties. Using the officialletterhead of his office, Jeff Thomaswrote a memo to Segerdated Sept. 13 informing him that the district attorney'soffice was dropping the charges against AmyThomas. In situations when a public defender deems someone is not qualified or signals that there is a conflict preventing them from representing a client, the county's president judge has a final say. Privacy Policy Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. 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. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Your Profile? October 19, 2021 / 5:10 PM / CBS Pittsburgh. Separate fees are paid for pleas or trials, the fee schedule shows. 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