Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Criminal Justice topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DA says plea deals redirected $10,000 fines to local nonprofits; trials rising
Summary
District Attorney Meaghan Maloney reported an increase in aggravated drug trafficking trials and said four plea deals converted felony charges to lower-level offenses with a provision that a $10,000 fine be paid to the DA's Office for distribution to local nonprofits.
District Attorney Meaghan Maloney told Commissioners that Somerset is seeing more jury trials as the office prosecutes additional aggravated drug trafficking cases. She said there were "four cases where there were felony convictions to lower-level crimes with the provision that a $10,000 fine be paid to the DA's Office which can be used to fund non-profit organizations in Somerset."
Commissioner Donald Skillings asked whether such funds could be redirected to operational costs in the Sheriff's Office or the DA's Office; Maloney replied the structure directs the funds to nonprofit organizations so the money remains in the county rather than going to the State's General Fund.
