Correspondent
On May 7 at the motion hearing for his case, Bradford County District Attorney Chad Salsman pled guilty to three counts.
In a plea deal reached with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office, Salsman pled guilty to felony promoting prostitution and the misdemeanors of obstruction of justice and intimidation of witnesses.
As part of the plea, Salsman acknowledged the charges were made on a factual basis directly in consequence to his exchanging sexual favors for legal fees.
All five victims relevant to the case were notified of the arrangement and agreed with it. According to Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Daniel Dye there was “No hesitation from any of the victims. To go through trial would force them to take the stand, to relive their trauma. They wanted justice served.”
Salsman is barred from having any contact with the victims.
One condition of the plea deal, as insisted upon by the Attorney General’s office, is Salsman’s resignation of office of District Attorney. Salsman’s attorney surrendered Salsman’s badge and put forward a letter of resignation from Salsman effective 5 p.m. May 7.
Dye remarked later that “Salsman’s resignation was a key goal, to end his stranglehold on arguably the most powerful office in the county. The victims were not comfortable with him remaining in office, I think the county was uncomfortable with him remaining District Attorney.”
Salsman’s attorney asked judge Augello for consent for a mental health report of Salsman prior to sentencing, which Augello agreed to.
Salsman’s license to practice law in the state of Pennsylvania had been under interim suspension from the Pennsylvania Bar Association and Salsman will be disbarred by consent.
Sentencing has been scheduled for July 9 at 10 a.m. The maximum sentence Salsman could face for the three charges would be 11 years and a $25,000 fine.