Bradford County District Attorney Albert Ondrey, who lost an election to Chad Salsman only to replace him when Salsman resigned under a cloud of sexual assault allegations, announced Thursday he will not seek re-election.
Ondrey, who spent several years as chief assistant district attorney under then-DA Daniel Barrett, ran in 2019 to replace Barrett, who was retiring, but lost both a Republican primary and the general election to Salsman.
However, in early 2021, more than a year into Salsman’s term, then-Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Salsman was being charged with multiple felonies — including sexual assault, indecent assault, intimidation of a witness or victim, obstruction of justice and prostitution.
The charges stemmed from allegations made by five women who were clients of Salsman when he was an attorney in private practice.
Salsman originally denied the charges and vowed to remain in office, but in May 2021 he pleaded guilty in Bradford County Court to charges of promoting prostitution, a felony, along with intimidation of victims and obstruction of justice, both misdemeanors.
Salsman also agreed to resign immediately, and in July 2021 was sentenced to up to five years in state prison.
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Bradford County judges Maureen Beirne and Evan Williams tapped Ondrey, who went into private practice after losing the 2019 election, to serve as acting district attorney until the end of 2021.
Ondrey won election that fall to serve out the remainder of Salsman’s term, which expires Dec. 31, 2023.
Ondrey, who plans to retire after practicing law for 40 years, said in his announcement he has achieved what he set out to do when he was appointed.
“My goal was to restore trust to the office after the unfortunate events leading to the resignation of the prior district attorney and I believe that I have accomplished that,” Ondrey said.
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