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. His last Republican challenger in the general election was in 2010. 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. He took office in 2007. 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.. 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. The more time that people had to learn about the differences between the two of us, the people chose me. I tend to be more moderate, said Clement, who moved back to Towson late last year, but there are good aspects to the progressive agenda of some chief prosecutors to incarcerate fewer nonviolent, low-level crimes. Danielle E. Gaines contributed to this report. We must endeavor to address the root causes of crime and help those driven by issues often out of their control. News you can trust. BALTIMORE Although the Primary Election has come and gone, some races have yet to be called. He vowed to continue to seek the fair administration of justice for and the protection of anyone residing in or visiting Baltimore County.. I think we have kept things fresh, even though Ive been here a long time, Shellenberger said. In all, Shellenberger finished with a more than 2,100 vote lead over Leonard. Not just paying your salary paying for your mistakes.. 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 . Baltimore County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 4, Baltimore County Republican Central Committee, CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice. She said in the online meeting that was one of the reasons the prosecutor was concerned about moving forward in my case.. According to his most recent financial disclosure, he has around $22,000 in his campaign coffers. Leonard said he wants to take most of the blame away from the police department in regard to how it handles rape allegations because theyre really just following the directions of Mr. Shellenberger.. 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. Leonard, 40, was the first Democrat to go up against Shellenberger, 63, since the incumbent was elected in 2006. District Court Division. Published on: July 20, 2022 12:12 AM EDT|Updated on: July 22, 2022 6:28 PM EDT. 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. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Baltimore, Maryland Area. The Baltimore Banner may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The statement came hours after The Daily Record reported that Shellenberger told his staff he needed time away from the office, citing exhaustion after the election. 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. On election day I got the most votes. Campaign website: www.haynesforbaltimorecounty.com, www.thebaltimorebanner.com 2022 The Baltimore Banner. This is a big job and I certainly think that Ive proven over the years that Im up to continuing to do it, said Shellenberger. In Gubernatorial Election years, Baltimore County voters will elect the following: Governor; Lieutenant Governor; Comptroller; Attorney General; U.S. Representative (every two years) State Senators; State Delegates; County Executive; County Council; Judges of the Circuit Court (if vacancy exists) All Rights Reserved. Learn more about supporting local journalism. (A 2019 audit had found rape kits werent tested in 78% of cases.). He said he loves his job and believes that the office contributes a lot toward keeping people safe. Haynes brought up the allegations in the lawsuit that led to the recent settlement. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. And the voters of Baltimore County deserve that change.. On the final day of counting, incumbent Scott Shellenberger added 182 votes to his nearly 2,000 vote lead and edged out Robbie Leonard. 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. The county police and fire unions backed Shellenberger, while Leonard won endorsements from local Democratic clubs, progressive groups and other labor organizations, including the county teachers union. Only Shellenberger and the Fraternal Order of Police appeared in opposition, according to Leonard. He pointed to the murder of George Floyd, the Freddie Gray case and the Gun Trace Task Force scandal. Doug Riley, who served on the Baltimore County Council from 1990-1998, said hes known Haynes for almost 40 years and believes that he has a good perspective about the criminal justice system and how it can be used to help people. 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. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The district covering areas such as Overlea, Parkville, Rosedale and Towson drew five candidates, the most of any district. And its not OK for the states attorneys office to turn their back on their sworn oath.. In that case, a juror told the prosecutor another member of the jury had convinced the others that all Black women lie, according to the womans account. We must be attuned to the issues from both the perspective of the man on the street and the officer on the beat. Leonard said the incumbents opposition to local police reform policies mobilized him to challenge Shellenberger. 72. 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. -- Two big races played out on Election Day in Baltimore County in 2022. We just work cooperatively toward that goal.. Now the Democratic incumbent will have a Republican challenger, and that's only if he can win the contested Democratic primary. In Baltimore County, registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by a more than 2-to-1 margin. Hannah Gaskill received her masters of journalism degree in December 2019 from the University of Maryland. Review of sentences is another issue. Shellenberger: 30,449 Leonard: 29,531 There remains 28,000 more mail-in ballots to process that Baltimore. 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. He was ahead as votes started to be counted Tuesday night. Shellenbergers tactic is to lean on the justice system. Theres a point at which you get out of the process. 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. Has Maryland gone too far, or far enough, when it comes to police reform? Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, some scrutiny for his handling of police involved shooting incidents. 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. Shellenberger has a close relationship with the Baltimore County Police Department, which has been questioned in the past. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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.. Shellenberger has cruised to reelection for more than a decade. I was always on the opposite side of every issue from the current Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger, he said. All Rights Reserved. When they counted provisional ballots, I got the most votes. Leonard conceded about 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon. The Sun obtained a recording of the May 16 exchange from Leonard, who also spoke in the event. Whoever pulls it out, looks to be headed for a General Election match-up with Republican James A. Haynes who seems to have edged out Deborah Hill. A judge ruled in a hearing on Tuesday that the perjury and mortgage fraud trial for former Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby will remain in Baltimore despite attempts to move it. Mail-in ballots wont begin to be canvassed until Thursday and it could take days or possibly weeks for winners to be declared. Vote-counting stretched on for more than a week because of the large number of mail-in ballots cast in Marylands primary election. I always wondered, like, how is this states attorney a Democrat? 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. [Live election results: Baltimore County primary results]. I think that we do that every day.. [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.]. Soros has funded campaigns around the country to elect progressive local prosecutors. He criticized Shellenbergers handling of sexual assaults and police shootings, and his stance on reform legislation in Annapolis, where he has had an influential voice on criminal justice issues. The death of George Floyd opened many eyes to the need for significant change. The Baltimore County States Attorneys Office requested that law enforcement ask her not to seek charges against the men after prosecutors declined to proceed with a case. There is no Democratic candidate running for State's Attorney in Harford County. Assistant State's Attorney. People in the community, he said, want to be safe from violent crime. 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. HUNT VALLEY Baltimore Countys incumbent states attorney beat back an upstart primary challenger and will move on to the November general election. Critics have targeted Shellenberger over his handling of sexual assault cases and police involved shooting incidents. I have worked during my entire tenure as State's Attorney to run an office that applies the prosecution of crime even-handedly regardless of race or social position. 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. She previously worked on the print layout design team at The Diamondback, reported on criminal justice in Maryland for Capital News Service and served as a production assistant for The Confluence the daily news magazine on 90.5 WESA, Pittsburghs NPR member station. Leonard said that incarceration for drug offenses and prostitution doesnt work. He said his office now requires more documentation about its decisions to approve or decline charges in similar cases. He said Shellenberger is out of touch with Democratic primary voters. You can unsubscribe from these alerts at anytime. Leonard has run unsuccessfully for public office twice before, including a close state senate race he lost in 2018 to Republican Chris West. I dont like smear campaigns, said Laurel Matey, a 49-year-old Catonsville resident, referring to the ads distributed by Leonard and his supporters that cast Shellenberger in a bad light. Shellenberger said he has tried to run his office in a nonpolitical way. As of this publishing, the two are separated by less than 1,000 votes which is just shy of two percentage points. Gaskill has had bylines in The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post and The Chicago Tribune, among other publications. Haynes said he wants to add six to 10 more assistant states attorneys and would serve as an advocate for the criminal justice system if it needed additional judges or police officers. Robbie Leonard and Scott Shellenberger, candidates for Baltimore County States Attorney. He said the close primary made him realize that he needs to more frequently publicize some of the reforms that hes implemented including putting in place a marijuana diversion program and supporting the adoption of police body cameras. July 29, 2022. But when counting of mail-in ballots started later that week, Shellenberger closed the gap and then gained ground. Our job is to strive to always do the right thing. Leonard supporter Peta Richkus said his campaign generated energy that was visible throughout the county.. 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. Why would we deny the fact that mail that told voters exactly what the differences between the candidates were the good things about me, the things the incumbent needed to improve upon, said Leonard. Others vying for the GOP nomination were Henry Ciezkowski, Thilo August Albert Gluck, A. Scott Pappas and Kimberley Stansbury. 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 2021 audit said it couldnt assess case outcomes at trial because of COVID-19 delays. Shellenberger also said Leonards out-of-state support was troubling. We came up short of victory but we started a real conversation for change, he said. The voters of Baltimore County deserve that change. In the Democratic primary, Leonard has garnered an impressive list of endorsements so far, including from the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, Our Revolution, The Working Families Party, Progressive Maryland, CASA in Action and several labor unions. Advertisement Incumbent Democrat Johnny Olszewski defeated former. The public then expects a decision by their State's Attorney to pursue prosecution when appropriate. Last Updated 12/02/2014 03:18:07 PM. Marlon Tilghman, a pastor and county resident, said this week. Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby lost her reelection bid to defense attorney Ivan Bates in the Democratic primary after she was indicted by a grand jury on federal charges. The Baltimore Banner may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. He is a graduate of Loch Raven High School, Loyola College and the University of Baltimore School of Law. The results ahead of Monday's. The PAC filed in mid-June and its spending, only related to Leonards campaign, far outmatched what either candidate raised throughout the primary. The Baltimore County Board of Elections certified the county's results Friday, following a week of counting thousands of mail-in and provisional ballots. John Lee is a reporter for WYPR covering Baltimore County. Last updated: 08/24/2022 04:50:11 PM. Do voters want change? 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. Shellenberger, a Towson resident, will face Republican James A. Haynes in the November general election. He was also given the Gun Sense Candidate distinction from Moms Demand Action to End Gun Violence. 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. 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%. 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. 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. Scott Shellenberger won the Baltimore County States Attorney's race according to Baltimore Co Bd of Elections. Had we sent that mailer two weeks earlier, I probably would have walked away the victor. 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. David Collins (@dcollinsWBAL) July 29, 2022 Only hundreds of votes. 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). Quirk called the PACs ad campaign character assassination that influenced the race and said, Scott has always done his job very professionally.. If you say youre going to fight crime, fight crime.. 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). This is not a place to learn on the job.. Leonard supporters said the candidates platform is what attracted voters. 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. 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. The Department of Justice has an important role in . 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 democratic primary race for Baltimore County State's Attorney relies on thousands of outstanding mail-in ballots before a winner can be declared. County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., who was elected in 2018, faced little competition in the Democratic race. 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. He said hed like to post information about the office and its results as a measure of transparency on the website. 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. In response, Shellenberger noted that killings are down, with 22 in 2022 compared to 42 at this time in 2021. 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. Leonard is the secretary of the Maryland Democratic Party. Tilghman said Shellenberger has not shown fairness to people of color, pointing to factors including his stance on state juvenile justice reform legislation. He plans to hold a rally in Patriots Plaza in Towson at 2 p.m. WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore 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. If elected, he plans to partner with state and local agencies and nonprofits to get people help rather than introducing them to the criminal justice system. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. So often, with the way that these cases are handled, justice is not just denied, but they feel reassaulted by the criminal justice system. On the other hand, Shellenberger pointed to his decision to prosecute Baltimore County Police Officer James Laboard on a charge of manslaughter in the death of Christopher Brown, 17, of Randallstown, though a jury came back with a not guilty verdict in 2013. I accept that. Leonard spoke frequently of racial disparities in the criminal justice system. By: Bryan P. Sears Violent crime, unquestionably, must be prioritized. Leonard said, Just in the past few years weve seen so many civilians who have been killed by the police, whether they were suffering a mental health crisis or just being Black.. Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Baltimore County. They deserve some finality. How crazy is that? he said. Leonard has been a practicing attorney for 15 years and served as a public defender in Baltimore City. 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. His sole challenger was Adam Reuter, whose campaign focused on public schools and opposing government mandates related to COVID-19. And recent attack ads against Shellenberger airing on televisions and mailed to homes have focused on sexual assaults. What is the role of a prosecutor in seeking justice for people who may have been wrongly convicted or who received a sentence that should be reviewed due to changing circumstances? Subscribers to Maryland Family Law Update can access the digital edition archive. And I think he has the experience and the background to be a good states attorney., He said he supports term limits and believes that a change in leadership in these offices is necessary to bring in new ideas and perspectives. NR: not reported: Denotes Winner of the Election. Both Shellenberger and Leonard have declined to discuss the changes in vote totals over the last week of counting. Shellenberger said he intended to help the woman and did not want the men to sue her for claims such as false arrest. He also wants to examine the juvenile justice system. (AP Photo/Piper Blackburn). (WBFF) Incumbent Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger has won the Democratic primary after facing a strong challenge from progressive defense. Witnesses and victims of crime do not get paid to come to court, Haynes said. 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. Shellenberger takes issue with that, saying his office has prosecuted 19 police officers for various offenses. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. 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. Early numbers showed a very tight race, with the two separated by a fraction of a percentage point. 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.