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Bradford Co. DA Resigns, Takes Plea Deal After Sexual Misconduct Charges

ENDWELL, NY (WSKG) — Bradford County District Attorney Chad Salsman resigned Friday as part of a plea agreement reached with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office on a number of charges stemming alleged sexual misconduct with clients while he was a private defense attorney.

According to a press release from the PA Attorney General’s Office, Salsman pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution, intimidating victims and obstruction of justice. As part of the plea, Salsman also resigned from his position as Bradford County District Attorney.

In February, Attorney General Josh Shapiro charged Salsman following a grand jury investigation. Several female clients of Salsman told a grand jury the former defense attorney coerced them into sex acts.

“As Attorney General, I have a responsibility to stand up for the most vulnerable in our Commonwealth," Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro wrote in a statement to reporters. "Chad Salsman used his position as a private attorney, and then as the District Attorney, to intimidate and silence his victims and interfere with our investigation. Today is a powerful reminder that no one is above the law.” 

Salsman had been charged with three counts of sexual assault and five counts of indecent assault. However, according to a docket of the case, did not plead guilty to any of those counts.

The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania temporarily revoked Salsmans’ law license in March. Salsman initially denied the allegations and had accused multiple law enforcement of bias against him in investigating the matter. He also demanded information about the grand jury investigation from a former staffer.

Salsman will be sentenced on July 9 and could face prison time for the charges.

Vaughn Golden has been reporting across New York since 2016. Working as a freelancer while studying journalism and economics at Ithaca College, Vaughn has reported for a number of outlets including the Albany Times Union, New York Post, and NPR among others. Prior to coming to WSKG full-time, Vaughn was a reporter for the Watertown Daily Times. Vaughn now covers government and politics for WSKG.