NorCo Prosecutor Gets ARD on Drunk Driving Charges

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 The summary offenses were withdrawn.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. 

NorCo DA Election: Baratta Snags Dem Nod, But Houck Likely Captured GOP Write-In

On Monday, I told you all the reasons why DA Terry Houck would win his re-election campaign.  Once again, I was the kiss of death. But I stand by that prediction. It's just going to take a bit longer than I thought. I did expect Terry to prevail, but Steve Baratta won the Democratic nomination rather handily, both in mail-in ballots and in-person voting. He garnered 12,932 votes to 10,792 for Terry. He got 54% of the Democrats. 

I congratulate Steve for his victory, but it's pyrrhic,  This race will continue. That's because there are 2,118 Republican write-ins to be canvassed. Once that happens, it's very likely that Terry Houck, a Democrat, will be the Republican nominee. 

If he keeps his Democratic support, he should win in November. Houck wants to represent everyone. Baratta has made clear he's only interested in Democrats. 

Ray Lahoud, a major Baratta donor and supporter, told me he intends to challenge every single write-in vote that went to Houck.  

You can see the election results here. 

Jacko the Monkey Stars in NorCo DA Debate on PBS-39

PBS has stars like Big Bird and Kermit the Frog. As of Monday night, you can add Jacko the Monkey. He was featured prominently during the debate between Terry Houck and Tom Carroll for NorCo DA.

You can see it yourself on PBS' Facebook page.

Though Carroll was an Assistant DA in NorCo from 2005-2007, he had to resign after he had the brilliant idea of placing Jacko the Monkey on the desk of a black female assistant DA..

As you know, Jacko has posted his own op-ed here, denying any wrongdoing. In fact, he tells me he warned Carroll this would be taken the wrong way. Carroll didn't care, either because he's a bigot or an idiot.

It was funny watching him try to minimize what he did. He claimed he knew this would come up and called Sesame Street headquarters "the lion's den." Then, after some prodding, he claimed he had done it to cheer her up.

"Do you consider yourself astute and aware?" asked PBS host Monica Evans.

"At this point, you made your point," said a flustered Carroll. "I came here today to talk about the issues that are facing the District Attorney's Office ..."

Evans countered that a DA deals with a lot of different people. "If you don't understand the significance and how offensive putting a monkey on an African American's desk can be, I think that's a point to note."

Carroll then claimed, "This is an agenda driven by the left, like you do with everything else, to misdirect the issues."

At the time, Houck happened to be Carroll's boss.He said the black assistant was shaken to the core.He concluded that Carroll either displayed extraordinarily bad judgment or was a racist. Carroll was given two options - resign or be fired.

Sitting in the audience was Tom Carroll supporter Tricia Mezzacappa, who is facing trial for filing a false report with Pennsylvania State Police. She is accused of trying to frame a black male who lives across the street.

So he's got the bigot vote.