Advertisement Incumbent Democrat Johnny Olszewski defeated former. On election day I got the most votes. In one meeting, according to the woman, who is Black, a prosecutor cited a past sexual assault case where the victim also was a Black woman. When they counted provisional ballots, I got the most votes. Both Shellenberger and Leonard have declined to discuss the changes in vote totals over the last week of counting. Shellenberger is of the mindset that all laws should be enforced. Our nonprofit news organization is made possible by, Select the type of alerts youd like to receive, Browsers such as Chrome, Safari, and Firefox, Get text messages from The Banner in urgent situations (message and data rates may apply). That is about to change. A civil trial is scheduled for September. The Department of Justice has an important role in . McDonough faces a misdemeanor theft charge in connection with allegations he stole a Badillo campaign sign in Parkville. Our nonprofit news organization is made possible by, Select the type of alerts youd like to receive, Browsers such as Chrome, Safari, and Firefox, Get text messages from The Banner in urgent situations (message and data rates may apply). Shellenberger, who once led the division that prosecutes sex crimes, described sexual assaults as probably the most difficult cases for prosecutors in an interview with The Baltimore Sun about his campaign. Leonard is the secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party. He supports diverting low-level offenses out of the criminal justice system and wants to conduct a racial equity audit examining prosecutorial practices. I always wondered, like, how is this states attorney a Democrat? At the same time, they see that theres no accountability in the police department, and theres no accountability in the States Attorneys Office, he said. He said it is worth prosecuting low-level crimes and that the court system is, at times, what gets someone help. One Republican, Al Nalley, ran unopposed. Learn more about supporting local journalism. Then there is the GOP Primary battle for Harford County State's Attorney. Many different voices made themselves heard throughout the course of this primary election, and I was heartened by the instances when the issues were fairly discussed and debated, he said. The race was marked by heavy outside spending by progressive political action committees that sought to unseat Shellenberger. I will continue to fight to get more resources to properly fund an office which can address all crime. Shellenberger said, I feel there is still a great deal I can offer to the citizens of Baltimore County when it comes to crime fighting and keeping people safe.. About 2,100 votes separated the two. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. But Mohler and other Shellenberger supporters also point to the influence of outside money that supported Leonards candidacy. On election night, it looked like Shellenberger could be unseated after 15 years in office. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policies | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell My Personal Information | Ad Choices. Shellenberger: 30,449 Leonard: 29,531 There remains 28,000 more mail-in ballots to process that Baltimore. Baltimore Sun Media May 17, 2022 at 3:43 pm Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger Democratic 63 Towson, Baltimore County State's Attorney for Baltimore. Our job is to strive to always do the right thing. Shellenberger takes issue with that, saying his office has prosecuted 19 police officers for various offenses. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Of the cases where prosecutors brought charges, convictions were secured in 64% of the cases. I accept that. Riley said he helped the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee recruit Haynes to run and agreed to serve as the chairperson of his campaign. Shellenberger, meanwhile, emphasized his experience prosecuting crimes and said he has supported what he calls reasonable criminal justice reform. The Maryland Justice and Public Safety PAC, funded by billionaire philanthropist George Soros, poured nearly $784,000 into the race over a month, flooding many county Democrats mailboxes and social media feeds with advertisements. ), Voting stations are set up for the primary election at the Kentucky Exposition Center, Monday, June 22, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. With one polling place designated for Louisville on Tuesday, voters who didnt cast mail-in ballots could potentially face long lines in Kentuckys unprecedented primary election. State's Attorney County Courts Building 401 Bosley Avenue, Room 511 Towson, Maryland 21204 Reception Office Room 329 Hours Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Email statesattorney@baltimorecountymd.gov Phone 410-887-6600 TTY: 410-887-2799 State's Attorney Scott D. Shellenberger Baltimore County voters have made their selections in primary races for state's attorney, the County Council and county executive ahead of the November general contest. McDonough denies he stole the sign and a trial is scheduled for Aug. 29. No point in refreshing my browser window all night long when I could be catching some Zs, he said. NR: not reported: Denotes Winner of the Election. He said at the time that law enforcement has limited resources, and often a rape suspects identity is not in question because the victim and perpetrator know each other. Incumbent Scott Shellenberger gained ground in the Democratic primary race for Baltimore County state's attorney as mail-in ballots are tallied, taking a narrow lead Friday over. According to his most recent financial disclosure, he has around $22,000 in his campaign coffers. HUNT VALLEY, Md. David Collins (@dcollinsWBAL) July 29, 2022 Only hundreds of votes. The way that we can prevent it from happening again is to get good sentences, in the area of violent crime. Shellenberger said while he often testifies in opposition to the bills as drafted, he supports reasonable reforms. He harkened back to the 2015 Maryland Second Chance Act and the 2016 Justice Reinvestment Act, both of which he supported. [Baltimore Countys top prosecutor faces a progressive challenger in his first primary fight in 16 years. The Democratic nominee will face either Republicans James A. Haynes or Deborah Hill in the November general election. Election Day is Nov. 8. I worked to remove a requirement of "resistance" by victims of a sexual assault. Shellenberger told The Sun he spoke with Dever and said it was a wrong thing to say to a victim.. State Del. He plans to hold a rally in Patriots Plaza in Towson at 2 p.m. WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore If you say youre going to ring the bell, ring the bell, said Haynes, whos also a retired federal appellate administrative law judge. We must endeavor to address the root causes of crime and help those driven by issues often out of their control. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr.s attempt to end an enhanced federal benefit program early. all male county council, and men as state's attorney . Vote-counting stretched on for more than a week because of the large number of mail-in ballots cast in Marylands primary election. I want to raise the level of professionalism in the office.. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Leonard said his campaign that ended in a narrow defeat should be seen as a signal for change in the countys criminal justice system. Were the law and order portion of the criminal justice system., We have seen their office be fair in how they prosecute cases and defer cases, if necessary, through community service versus a criminal prosecution, he added. The police department shrugs off and blows off so many claims of rape and sexual assault because they know that theres no point in arresting someone because Mr. Shellenberger is just going to dismiss the case, he alleged. Republican. In other cases, such as the drug trade, its international. On the final day of counting,. One group, the Maryland Justice & Public Safety PAC, poured more than $780,000 into an effort to support Leonards candidacy with mailers, TV ads and other campaign spending. Billionaire philanthropist George Soros is listed as the only contributor to the committee in the latest state campaign finance report, donating $884,000. . The. Returns were. wont begin to be canvassed until Thursday, Live election results: Baltimore County primary results, Live election results: Maryland Gubernatorial primary, boosted by super political action committee, CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice. Were one of the only large counties to certify its elections today, said County Elections Director Ruie Lavoie. - University of Baltimore, School of Law, 1984 - Loyola College, 1981, - State's Attorney for Baltimore County since 2007 - Won election in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. The Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City accepts applications on a rolling basis for membership into the Honors Law Clerk Program. But he and his prosecutors have faced questions about their decision-making on charging perpetrators, particularly when the victim did not report an assault right away or was intoxicated when it happened. The Baltimore Banner may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Most of the time, Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger does not even draw a general election challenger. All rights reserved. This decision must also be balanced with a knowledge and judgement in prosecution which addresses the circumstances police officers are placed in while working to protect the community. Patoka had a large lead in early returns, as did other council members who faced primary challengers: Republicans Todd Crandell of Dundalk, Wade Kach of Cockesyville, and David Marks of Perry Hall. By signing up for alerts, I agree to The Baltimore Banner's Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy and to receive news alerts and other communications from The Baltimore Banner. Witnesses and victims of crime do not get paid to come to court, Haynes said. The PAC filed in mid-June and its spending, only related to Leonards campaign, far outmatched what either candidate raised throughout the primary. The voters of Baltimore County deserve that change. With the limits on resources with which I am provided, that is where my priorities will be. Haynes said he would neither solicit campaign donations from staff nor ask them to work the polls. Law Clerks are assigned to work in one of the trial units. He said low-level offenses should be diverted out of the criminal justice system to preserve resources for violent crime, and vowed not to prosecute cases of marijuana possession for personal use. Review of sentences is another issue. He said he loves his job and believes that the office contributes a lot toward keeping people safe. Nonpartisan. Before pursuing journalism, she received her bachelors of fine art degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 2016. She also spoke in June at a virtual town hall hosted by 1199SEIU, a health care union that endorsed Leonard, in partnership with the a new group called Legal Justice Alliance of Baltimore County. The states attorney and others in his office are defendants in an ongoing federal lawsuit in which a woman who reported she was raped alleges they violated her constitutional rights. The world has changed a lot in the last four years, Jaros said. Leonard said that transparency and accountability mean prosecuting violent crimes where theres actual victims not quality of life offenses, like charges that stem from poverty or drug use. We have removed the defense that a person cannot be convicted of sexually assaulting a spouse. This is a place where I was well prepared when I first came into office and am even more prepared to continue to lead the office now, he added. The criminals havent scored any more points, he later added. He said he wouldnt discuss details because I dont think its fair to her, but alluded to what she told police and the timing of the report. In the 26 cases where prosecutors were consulted, the audit found, there were six that proceeded to criminal cases, 17 where charges were declined, one dismissed case and a request for further investigation of two cases. At the May online meeting of the Southwest Baltimore County Democratic Club, Shellenberger confirmed hed met with the woman and didnt believe prosecutors could prove her case. [Live election results: Baltimore County primary results]. In the countys southwest corner, there was a three-way Democratic race for the seat now held by Tom Quirk of Oella, who is stepping down. We cannot, however, pursue cases which cannot be proven. It is among dozens of groups pumping money into local races for head prosecutor across the U.S. and funded generously by New York billionaire George Soros and groups associated with him. Shellenberger reported having over $13,000 on hand, while Haynes detailed having more than $1,500 available, according to campaign finance disclosure reports that covered July 4-Aug. 23. He said hed hire ethics counsel to both keep people out of trouble and help assistant states attorneys do their best work. Working immediately to get an innocent person freed who has been wrongly convicted is probably the most important thing a prosecutor should do. The task forces original report found prosecutors declined to charge in 57% of the audits sampling of sexual assault cases reported from 2016 through 2018, and brought charges in 34%. This is contrary to our ethical obligation and does a disservice to victims of sexual assault if the process loses its legitimacy by inappropriate prosecutions. Leonard will make his bid for Baltimore County States Attorney official on Saturday. Republican Tony Campbell was unopposed. In the lawsuit, a woman accuses Shellenberger of sending police to her home to tell her to stop trying to pursue criminal charges against the men she said assaulted her. The woman disputed Shellenbergers suggestion that her story changed and said he told her last year he believed her allegation because she was consistent.. Should certain crimes be prioritized and, if so, which? It noted there were continuing challenges for police and prosecutors interviewing victims with disabilities or mental health issues. Subscribers to Maryland Family Law Update can access the digital edition archive. He said his office now requires more documentation about its decisions to approve or decline charges in similar cases. You certainly have to be impressed with the energy and campaign that Robbie ran to challenge an incumbent, former County Executive Don Mohler, a Democrat who backed Shellenberger, said last week after Leonards strong showing on election night. The Maryland PAC is affiliated with the national Justice & Public Safety PAC, which has helped fund progressive prosecutor candidates in Virginia and Pennsylvania in recent years. Mail-in ballots wont begin to be canvassed until Thursday and it could take days or possibly weeks for winners to be declared. Ten days after Election Day, Shellenberger officially prevailed Friday in the Democratic contest between him and Robbie Leonard, a former public defender who is now an attorney in private practice. Shellenberger, a Towson resident, will face Republican James A. Haynes in the November general election. We came up short of victory but we started a real conversation for change, he said. Leonard has run unsuccessfully for public office twice before, including a close state senate race he lost in 2018 to Republican Chris West. Education: Bachelors degree in English from the University of Maryland in 1973. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. His office issued a statement Thursday saying he plans to return the week after next, and is still in consistent contact with staff and making management decisions. Some though have been settled. One local professor said he sees the closeness of the race as a sign county voters are more open to criminal justice reforms than some previously believed. Black Lives Matter and issues related to mass incarceration have sort of gone mainstream as viable, relevant issues, Jaros said. We also need to continue our efforts to demonstrate to all citizens that the justice system must continue in our efforts to be race neutral and assure that all are treated fairly. Shellenbergers tactic is to lean on the justice system. Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger is pictured in this portrait in his office on Oct. 25, 2022. So often, with the way that these cases are handled, justice is not just denied, but they feel reassaulted by the criminal justice system. They deserve some finality. With roughly 35,000 Baltimore County ballots yet to be counted, the Democratic primary for states attorney was extremely close Tuesday night, with hundreds of votes separating attorney and Maryland Democratic Party Secretary Robbie Leonard and longtime incumbent Scott Shellenberger. Learn more about supporting local journalism. I think that we do that every day.. . His last Republican challenger in the general election was in 2010. Shellenberger opposed the legislation. Haynes, 72, of Rodgers Forge, is a retired administrative judge with the U.S. Department of Labor and a former state assistant attorney general. But this year, his 16th in office, he has faced the most sustained criticism of his career. Shellenberger has cruised to reelection for more than a decade. In all, Shellenberger finished with a more than 2,100 vote lead over Leonard. He has emphasized positive steps made in response to criticisms, such as increased testing of rape kits. Leonards and the PACs messaging focused heavily on Shellenbergers handling of sexual assault cases. Were often hearing from survivors that they want justice, said Rodriguez. TurnAround, she said, is eager to work with the office on enhancing victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches to working with survivors. For example, many people are required to get drug treatment during probation. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Not just paying your salary paying for your mistakes.. Olszewski had a wide lead in initial returns. In the state's attorney race, incumbent Scott Shellenberger has maintained a lead in recent days over challenger Robbie Leonard as mail-in votes are tallied. Haynes brought up the allegations in the lawsuit that led to the recent settlement. Shellenberger has said the office doesnt collect data around the number of criminal prosecutions, convictions or victim and perpetrator demographics making it challenging for observers to analyze outcomes. It is clear from the years I have been a prosecutor that the root of most crime is in drug addiction, alcohol abuse or mental health issues. The 2021 audit said it couldnt assess case outcomes at trial because of COVID-19 delays. The Maryland Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved the states portion of a $100,000 settlement in a lawsuit in which a woman alleged that police and prosecutors violated her constitutional rights after she reported that three baseball players from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, sexually assaulted her. BALTIMORE Although the Primary Election has come and gone, some races have yet to be called. Your mistakes.. 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