In August, I told you that former Lehigh County prosecutor Joseph R Stauffer, who now is Northampton County "Deputy" District Attorney is himself a criminal defendant. He was charged by Whitehall Township police with driving while under the influence (DUI) on May 30, and at the highest rate of alcohol in his system (0.16% or higher.) He was also charged with the summary offenses of careless driving and with bad tires.
On September 17, he was placed on Lehigh County's ARD program for first offenders. If he successfully completes 12 months of probation, the charges will be dismissed. The summary offenses were withdrawn.
Stauffer is a 2003 graduate of Widener University School of Law and has practiced law since 2004. He has no history of any discipline by the state disciplinary board.
He is represented by well-known and highly respected defense attorney Angelo Almonti.
17 comments:
0.16% = pretty hammered. He's no rookie and will do it again. ARD in these cases is a free pass and only puts a target on his future potential victims. Hold your loved ones close. This guy is eventually coming after them. He should never drive again. he should be sentenced to use rideshare for the rest of his life.
Is this goofball at least suspended from his job pending completion of this program?
How many DUI's did you have in your drunken-attorney drivings days, Bernie? How many "whew, I made it home without crashing" nights did you have, Bernie? Stone-throwers want to know, Bernie!
I agree, and btw, ARD is a joke!
I am okay with him getting ARD, but I agree with everything else you said. This guy is a raging alcoholic and I am sure it is not the first time he has driven drunk, it's just the first time he got caught. Just ask anyone who used to work with him in Lehigh County. If you read the police report, you will see this incident was pretty bad. This guy was driving on his bare rims!
Besides the above, he is lucky he has not been reported to HR yet. The way he treats the females in this office, particularly the clerical staff, is inappropriate and needs to be reported.
7:12, I never had a DUI but should have been arrested numerous times. In those days, police were far more reticent to arrest someone for drinking and driving. Times changed and now many who have no real alcohol dependency issues are cited. And that is a good thing bc it saves lives.
6:12, Most people on ARD are not suspended. That includes prosecutors. They are trial lawyers, which is a highly stressful job. On top of that, most lawyers I know are part of a culture in which alcohol flows freely. Most can handle it. A few can't.
9:17, It is never a good idea to get on the wrong side of the clerical staff in the DA's office, lol. Always has been that way. They are tougher than the prosecutors.
So prosecutors that break the law should continue carrying a badge and prosecuting criminals while they’re on probation - got it
He should take a lesson from one of the female prosecutors who always makes sure to tell the clerical staff when the coffee is out to go do their job and make another pot!
3:31- Exactly. If it was a police officer, s/he would be fired.
It is fine this man is getting ARD if that is what the law states, BUT, he should be removed from his job. If BaRATta wants to act the part of DA, then he should tell this man he is fired. And he should find him help. The esteemed DA has fired people for far less than this, but he did hire a detective who himself has problems.
All people, including prosecutors, make mistakes. He shouldn’t be treated any differently, better or worse, simply because of his employment, especially for something not work related. Learn from your mistakes and move on.
6:17, That is pretty much 100% false. I know numerous police officers charged with DUI who kept their jobs. I know many good people who are charged with DUI and keep their jobs in law enforcement. It is repeated behavior that sends a red flag.
8:16, Agree he should receive no better treatment than any defendant, but no worse. Some people seem to have it in for this guy.
Schadenfreude. So it goes…
Sorry Bernie, he’s just unpleasant to work with.
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