Jason Pelt, a partner with the Law Firm of Goodall, Pelt & Carper, P.C., is seeking to run for the Stafford Commonwealth Attorney seat for the second time.
Pelt first ran back in 2011 against Eric Olsen, who currently holds the position, after Daniel Chichester, the preceding Commonwealth Attorney, decided to retire.
Olsen intends to run for his second term, and will face Pelt in the Republican primary on June 9.
Pelt pointed to two cases in Olsen’s record as Commonwealth Attorney that he feels show Olsen is not representing the citizens in the community well.
“… I continue to see injustice at the hands of our elected officials. Cases like Edgar Coker, a young black man that was wrongfully convicted of a sex offense at the hands of Eric Olsen. Thankfully, it took the work of the Innocent Project of the University of Virginia to finally clear his name. Or the case of Reginald Latson, a young black man with Autism. In this case the current Commonwealth’s Attorney decided mental illness should be handled with a long jail sentences. Governor Terry McAuliffe, with the encouragement of House Speaker William Howell, recently pardoned the young man so that he can seek professional mental health treatment instead of a jail, overturning Eric Olsen’s position,” said Pelt.
In addition to his concern about the way some of Olsen’s handled some of his cases, Pelt pointed out the acts of unethical conduct within Olsen’s staff.
“Under the current leadership of the Stafford Commonwealth’s Attorney, a member of the staff was reprimanded for unethical conduct while prosecuting cases. Stafford County deserves better from its elected leaders,” Pelt commented.
As Commonwealth Attorney, the elected individual is expected to prosecute crimes in Stafford County. The office has a staff of 25 and a budget of almost $2.5 million dollars.
During his campaign for the Republican nomination, Pelt plans to show how we would work with the Stafford Sheriff’s Department and community residents to make sure that the laws are fairly upheld, and freedoms protected.
“Stafford County needs a prosecuting attorney that enforces our laws, but also protects the freedoms that we hold sacred. I want to work effectively with our Sheriff’s Department to combat crime and keeps our communities safe, but not at the expense of your liberty. The two ideas can live together, but only under new leadership. The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney needs to ensure that the wrongfully accused are not the wrongfully convicted,” said Pelt.
Pelt lives with his wife and four children in Stafford County.
