Baratta's Low Point In DA Debate

Terry Houck

I've written before about an ongoing dispute between two factions of Sikhs at Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Lehigh Valley. It's become an issue in the NorCo DA race, but the problem has gone on at least a decade. It's been chronicled in Lehigh Valley Live, and includes accusations that one group of seven malcontents has pulled a priest off the altar, dragged congregants outside and sawed off locks. As noted in the article, police have responded to each complaint. But anyone familiar with the Constitution should know that one must tread lightly and avoid interfering with the free exercise clause of the first amendment. 

A lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction against the sect of seven was filed February 15.  

In addition to this lawsuit, there was a "protest" at the temple. Guest speaker Steve Baratta sides with one of the factions, and posted this on his Facebook page: "Today I was proud to be with the leaders of Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Lehigh Valley and stand up for their constitutional right to practice their religion safely in their place of worship. The current District Attorney and law enforcement have neglected to protect these people and this Temple from harm. On the bench I was honored to provide equal treatment and as District Attorney I pledge to provide fair justice for all."

In addition to attacking the District Attorney, Baratta attacked police officers who have responded to each complaint. 

Some of these Sikhs were at Tuesday night's District Attorney debate. 

Baratta: "I got my friends from the temple here. Those people came to you [Houck] for help. Those guys invaded the temple, attacked a priest, tried to steal their money, and you sent them out and said, 'We're not getting involved, we're not going to give you protection in your township, we're not going to protect you so you can practice your religion peacefully.' They're here because you refused to listen to them and you passed them away"

Houck: "There is a civil, not a criminal, dispute between two factions of the temple that has existed for about 10 years, long before I was district attorney. They're apparently suing each other to keep each other out. Neither side has got an affirmative ruling from the courts, which of course prohibits us from expelling either faction and this has always been the genesis of what both groups want. Both groups have always had the option of getting civil injunctions ... . 

"I've met with both sides and their attorneys on two separate occasions ... I also gave them the option of continuing the discussion, sir, which they both were grateful for. Neither side claimed at that time that the police or this office was ignoring them, and in fact, it was just the opposite. The police have responded to every call. I think they've been there in excess of 20 times. So the accusation that the police are not doing anything is patently false. The police arrive and are often met with accusations by both groups of lack of identification, alleged wrongdoing, inconsistent statements and recantations. ... Police are given accusations like 'He looked at me the wrong way' or some other similar type statement. If anyone ever feels the police are doing nothing, or they have evidence of a crime that the police are ignoring, they always have the option of filing a private criminal complaint, which to my knowledge they have never done. ... We have charged people in the past. In April 2022, we charged three people with harassment ... .All three have been convicted. ... Presently, there are two ongoing criminal investigations by the Colonial Regional Police Department"

"If [Baratta] had picked up the phone, he would have realized that both the police and my office were proactive in this. Instead, he took a side, made an accusation with no facts and now has disqualified himself from any independent investigation should he become the District Attorney. In other words, for anything in the past or the future, a referral would now have to be made to the state Attorney General's office to do all investigations, all at the added expense to the taxpayer.

"The district attorney is ethically bound to remain impartial in his pursuit of justice. This means conducting investigations in a fair and objective manner. He has failed at that task."

Baratta (to the Sikhs in the audience): "Apparently you guys aren't in control of your own church. He doesn't care about all the legal documentation that indicates that you guys have a board of directors and an executive committee and you guys own that property and you guys control that property. He [Houck] doesn't want to look at that and doesn't care because you guys don't look like him because when he looked at the video he told you what - he told you  [audience begins to interrupt] Wait! Wait! Wait! Be quiet! - He told you what? He told you what? He told you, 'I looked at the video and you all look alike. I can't tell you apart.' [several members of the audience walk out]

Houck: "This is a lie. It's been in the civil courts for 10 years."

Blogger's Opinion: This was, in my view, Baratta at his worst during the Tuesday night debate.  Don't get me wrong. He has some very good ideas and has some valid criticism.  But he diminishes himself and his quality suggestions when he goes off on tangents like these. 

First, it's quite clear that his claims that Houck and the Colonial Regional Police Department have done nothing, are factually inaccurate. 

Second, he is no longer a judge and has no right to tell members of the audience to be quiet. I'm sure that alienated a few people. He could have asked me for assistance and I would have warned his detractors to be quiet or be gone. I could have played the bad guy, which I had no problem doing with a few people who tried at times to take over the questioning.   

Third, his claim that Houck told people of Indian descent that they all look alike is highly insulting to anyone of average intelligence. That is when a few people left. Houck, and I daresay most white people, are well aware that statements like that should never be made  Baratta claims this is what he was told. But the people telling him this, while understandably distraught, appear to have trouble with English. I believe they likely misunderstood Houck or offered that as a reason why Houck refused to do what they wanted.