In 2017, Shellenberger opposed mandatory testing of every rape kit. Baltimore County State's Attorney is challenged on prosecution . Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger is pictured in this portrait in his office on Oct. 25, 2022. Shellenbergers primary win comes as he takes time away from the office. Some areas, though, recently saw an uptick in homicides at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Longtime Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger's record on handling sexual assault cases is in the spotlight as he seeks a fifth term as the county's top prosecutor.. Scott Shellenberger won the Baltimore County States Attorney's race according to Baltimore Co Bd of Elections. In response, Shellenberger noted that killings are down, with 22 in 2022 compared to 42 at this time in 2021. In elected, Haynes said, hed make every possible effort to work with the U.S. Attorneys Office and federal law enforcement on prosecutions involving gangs, drugs and illegal guns. The Republican candidates are James Haynes, a retired attorney who previously worked as an administrative judge for the U.S. Department of Labor and at the state attorney general and public defender offices, and Deborah Hill, who has represented state employee retirees in a lawsuit challenging a reduction in their prescription drug benefits. As precinct ballots were tallied, Leonard maintained the marginal lead of 860 votes over Shellenberger, who had gone unchallenged in the primary race for his seat since the tough on crime prosecutor was first elected in 2006. I am running to continue our efforts to protect all of the citizens of Baltimore County from crime. If you say youre going to ring the bell, ring the bell, said Haynes, whos also a retired federal appellate administrative law judge. Shellenberger said that older kits are currently being tested even in cases where it wasnt stranger-on-stranger. Thus far, 400 older kits have been tested and 300 more are on deck. She said prosecutors she worked with in the years since her assaults made her feel worthless and like she wasnt human, including mocking and blaming her. Before pursuing journalism, she received her bachelors of fine art degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 2016. HUNT VALLEY Baltimore Countys incumbent states attorney beat back an upstart primary challenger and will move on to the November general election. Occupation: Baltimore County states attorney, 2007-present. According to his most recent financial disclosure, he has around $22,000 in his campaign coffers. When youre trying to explain to someone the reasons why you cant go forward, you have to give real-life experiences as to what happens in other cases to give it context. Shellenberger is of the mindset that all laws should be enforced. 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 I had known for over a decade who Scott was and what he stood for, but it was at that moment that I realized how out of touch he is with the people that hes supposed to be representing and how out of touch he is in the pursuit of justice and fairness, he said. He said hed hire ethics counsel to both keep people out of trouble and help assistant states attorneys do their best work. Leonard, the first Democrat to challenge the incumbent since Shellenberger was first elected in 2006, criticized the states attorneys handling of such issues as sexual assaults, police shootings and other cases. The State Board of Elections provides all eligible citizens of the State convenient access to voter registration; provides all registered voters accessible locations in which they may exercise their right to vote, to ensure uniformity of election practices; to promote fair and equitable elections; and to maintain registration records, campaign fund reports, and other election-related data accurately and in a form that is accessible to the public. He said his office now requires more documentation about its decisions to approve or decline charges in similar cases. When you get into the process, the taxpayers in Maryland and Baltimore County end up paying for your mistakes, said Haynes, referring to the states attorneys offices involvement in the case. The winner of the primary will go on to the general election to face Republican James A. Haynes, 72, a former federal labor department administrative judge who lives in Rodgers Forge, or Deborah Hill, 60, a private practice attorney who lives in Cockeysville. Return to Election Result Index . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Some female voters told The Baltimore Sun during the campaign that issues related to sexual assault were why they supported Leonard. We just work cooperatively toward that goal.. Tagged with: Baltimore County Elections scott shellenberger. (A 2019 audit had found rape kits werent tested in 78% of cases.). Rodriguez, who has been working as an advocate for the woman who confronted Shellenberger, said the reasoning for why prosecutors arent moving forward has been inconsistent. Rodriguez is a former prosecutor in Shellenbergers office and said she would have brought criminal charges against the womans attacker, based on the facts of the case. Longtime Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenbergers record on handling sexual assault cases is in the spotlight as he seeks a fifth term as the countys top prosecutor. The Sun obtained a recording of the May 16 exchange from Leonard, who also spoke in the event. 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. Other controversies in Baltimore Countys sexual assault investigations and prosecutions have ranged from the lack of testing and destruction of rape kits to authorities reluctance to bring criminal charges unless theres evidence a victim physically resisted. No point in refreshing my browser window all night long when I could be catching some Zs, he said. She hopes to see more transparency in case data, such as publicly available information to examine any trends around victim demographics or the outcomes of prosecutors review, she said. We have removed the defense that a person cannot be convicted of sexually assaulting a spouse. The 16-year incumbent released a statement . Working immediately to get an innocent person freed who has been wrongly convicted is probably the most important thing a prosecutor should do. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I do not believe the facts that you revealed the first time to the police amount to a crime in the state of Maryland.. 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. He is hardworking and dedicated to his family and to his jobs and to the law, Riley said. He said he loves his job and believes that the office contributes a lot toward keeping people safe. With in-person and early voting ballots tallied, Leonard held a narrow lead of 860 votes. Cox initially said he would offer some comment but left without speaking to reporters after the results were announced. He ran on a progressive platform and portrayed Shellenberger as out of step with todays Democrats on issues such as police reform. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Shellenberger, seen as a traditional law-and-order prosecutor, defended his record during the campaign and said his office aggressively prosecuted crimes of violence, especially gun offenses. Specifically, Leonard criticized the states attorney for not prosecuting police officers involved in fatal shootings. Leonard will make his bid for Baltimore County States Attorney official on Saturday. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. How crazy is that? he said. 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. 72. Election Day is Nov. 8. dylan.segelbaum@thebaltimorebanner.com Meet the candidates for Baltimore County state's attorney Scott Shellenberger Age: 63 Residence: Towson Political party: Democratic By: Bryan P. Sears . Offers may be subject to change without notice. If you say youre going to fight crime, fight crime.. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. In this instance, Dever said, the juror was a Black woman who told other jurors the defendant reminded her of her son and indicated she believed all Black women lie. The defendant was found not guilty in the trial. He also wants to examine the juvenile justice system. 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. Last updated: 08/24/2022 04:50:11 PM. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, some scrutiny for his handling of police involved shooting incidents. Incumbent Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger, left, a Democrat, and Jim Haynes, right, a Republican, are running against 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. I am committed to fight for the victims and a hope for peace in their lives after my office has achieved justice for them. After early voting when people showed up for eight days, I got the most votes. WYPR - 88.1 FM Baltimore | Any questions or feedback can be sent to elections@baltsun.com, or read more about the questionnaire process here. Its paramount that the states attorneys office for Baltimore County creates written guidelines for prosecuting sexual assaults and to follow national best practices as recommended by a 2019 task force. Leonard, 40, was boosted by super political action committee the Maryland Justice & Public Safety PAC, which quickly accrued more than half a million dollars in debt to a New York-based political consultant for advertising materials to promote his campaign. Some voters, though, said they were discouraged from voting for Leonard after receiving a slew of mailers in the waning weeks of the primary from a super political action committee excoriating Shellenbergers reluctance to prosecute sexual assault crimes and charge police officers who fatally shoot civilians. The PAC filed in mid-June and its spending, only related to Leonards campaign, far outmatched what either candidate raised throughout the primary. The effort attracted the attention of outside organizations including groups connected to billionaire George Soros. Some though have been settled. Leonards and the PACs messaging focused heavily on Shellenbergers handling of sexual assault cases. The strength of Leonards candidacy, I think, suggests that the public has an appetite for criminal justice reform.. (Ex: Low-level drug offenses vs. violent crimes with victims, etc.). That doesnt mean that everybody goes to jail, he said. On election night, it looked like Shellenberger could be unseated after 15 years in office. Should certain crimes be prioritized and, if so, which? We cannot, however, pursue cases which cannot be proven. The Baltimore Banner is a trademark registered in the U.S. for The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Has Maryland gone too far, or far enough, when it comes to police reform? Where do you see room for improvement in how sexual assault survivors are treated by law enforcement and prosecutors? Lawrence J. Hogan Jr.s attempt to end an enhanced federal benefit program early. David Folderauer, president of the Baltimore County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 4, which has endorsed Shellenberger, said its members have worked with him for years and are impressed with how he runs his office. I am absolutely committed to that. He took office in 2007. 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. In mid-May, New York Magazine published a piece detailing an ongoing federal lawsuit against Shellenberger and other officials in which sexual assault survivors have alleged that their rights were violated and the investigation of their cases mishandled. He fulfilled a lifelong dream when elected State's Attorney for Baltimore County in 2006, and was re-elected in 2010, 2014 and 2018. Violent crime, unquestionably, must be prioritized. Critics have targeted Shellenberger over his handling of sexual assault cases and police involved shooting incidents. Were not going to say, Well, its a stalemate. Prosecutors had declined to take the case, but the woman tried to pursue charges on her own through the court commissioner. The states attorney said he has supported what he considers reasonable criminal justice reform, and touted his long experience prosecuting crime and supervising dozens of attorneys. By, Wavelength: Baltimore's Public Radio Journey, One Day at a Time: In Recovery in Baltimore, Celebrating 20 Years of Commitment to Community. Learn more about supporting local journalism. Subscribers to The Daily Record can access the digital edition archive. He unseated the two-term incumbent, Marilyn Mosby, in the Democratic primary and did not face a challenger in the general election. His sole challenger was Adam Reuter, whose campaign focused on public schools and opposing government mandates related to COVID-19. Friday marked the final day of counting for mail-in and provisional ballots in Baltimore County. 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. Soros has funded campaigns around the country to elect progressive local prosecutors. When they counted provisional ballots, I got the most votes. Mr. Shellenberger was born and raised in Baltimore County. BALTIMORE, MD -- 6/19/15 -- U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards speaks at the first Rural Maryland Democratic Summit in Frederick on Saturday. But in the days that followed, Leonard saw his lead eroded as more than 87,000 mail-in votes were counted. all male county council, and men as state's attorney . In the race to be the countys top prosecutor, Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger faced an aggressive primary challenge from Robbie Leonard as he sought a fifth term. I always wondered, like, how is this states attorney a Democrat? For the first time in a decade, Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger (D) will have a Republican opponent to campaign against if he can beat Robbie Leonard (D) in the 2022 primary election. Gubernatorial Election years are 2022, 2026, 2030, etc. Its important for the courts to get involved so that they can assist defendants in getting the help that they need, sometimes by making it a condition of probation.. With roughly 35,000 Baltimore County ballots yet to be counted, the Democratic primary for state's attorney was extremely close Tuesday night, with hundreds of votes separating attorney and Maryland Democratic Party Secretary Robbie Leonard and longtime incumbent Scott Shellenberger. Campaign website: www.scottshellenberger.com. Leonard has run unsuccessfully for public office twice before, including a close state senate race he lost in 2018 to Republican Chris West. For those who are guilty and a Judge has decided the appropriate sentence, we cannot ignore and must be sensitive to the victims. (Paul Newson) As he seeks a fifth term in office, Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger on Tuesday held a wide lead over his first challenger in the general election in 12 years, Jim Haynes. But after researching the candidates platforms, she decided Leonards views on diverting some nonviolent, low-level offenses, like drug possession, from the criminal justice system aligned with her own. Members of the BCSAO Honors Law Clerk Program are full-time benefitted employees of the BCSAO. Leonard, 40, was the first Democrat to go up against Shellenberger, 63, since the incumbent was elected in 2006. Together, we can, At a heated meeting Thursday, the Juvenile Justice Reform Council voted to recommend that the legislature abolish the practice of automatically charging minors in, Bernice Mireku-North (D), a Silver Spring attorney and criminal justice reformer, formally launched her bid to unseat Montgomery County States Attorney John J. McCarthy. Gaskill has had bylines in The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post and The Chicago Tribune, among other publications. [A top prosecutor told the task force in 2021 the office had faith in our ability to pull on our experiences within the office as to how to handle any particular investigation, and said prosecutors have a significant amount of experience and knowledge in sex offense prosecution.]. Amanda Rodriguez, the executive director of the nonpartisan advocacy group TurnAround Inc., said there absolutely has to be a change in how sexual assaults are prosecuted in Baltimore County, regardless of who wins the election. The political action committee spent hundreds of thousands on mailings and ads in support of Leonard. Tracking prosecutorial decisions is difficult due to a lack of public reporting. I guess the easiest way to put it is, in this instance if it aint broke, dont fix it, said Spencer, about his support for Shellenberger. Olszewski had a wide lead in initial returns. While most attention Tuesday focused on the Republican and Democratic Gubernatorial races and the Baltimore City State's Attorney's race, others were heating up. After the recommendations from the countys latest task force on sexual assaults, the group did a follow-up audit in 2021 to measure improvements or lingering problems. The states attorney is elected to a four-year term and earns a salary of $216,749. A tough-on-crime Democrat, Shellenberger will square up against the young, self-described progressive attorney and secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party at the polls in July. 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. It noted there were continuing challenges for police and prosecutors interviewing victims with disabilities or mental health issues. He noted that he hires new assistant states attorneys and frequently speaks with his elected counterparts through his involvement with the Maryland States Attorneys Association. 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. According to a 2019 Baltimore Sun report, the Baltimore County Sexual Assault Investigations Task Force found that county police seldom tested evidence from sexual assault cases. McDonough denies he stole the sign and a trial is scheduled for Aug. 29. The results ahead of Monday's. Imagine any other victim of a crime where we would say, in order to capture the real bad guy, we need to lock you up, put handcuffs on you and make you stand in front of a judge.. Unofficial results from the Maryland State Board of Elections showed a tight race from the votes garnered during the state's early voting period, with the candidates just 64 votes apart.
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