Dear Editor:
In her most recent letter to the editor, Judy Davis again demonstrates she is easily confused by facts. For her sake, I will be more precise: we have a problem in the Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office.
Several days after I announced candidacy for United States Congress last January, my former girlfriend was summoned to a meeting with District Attorney Bill Shaw in an attempt to get her to file charges against me for an incident alleged to have occurred five months prior. Over the next three months and during the campaign, Bill Shaw continued to pressure my former girlfriend to file charges. When she refused to cooperate, Bill Shaw solicited statements from my opponent and his campaign staff to precipitate the filing of charges against me five days before the election. I was charged with crimes I didn’t commit, nor plead guilty or was found guilty of, in an attempt to influence an election.
My experience is not an isolated incident. Mrs. Davis and your readers may recall when two Clearfield Police Officers were charged with crimes by Bill Shaw last year. The charges against the officers were dropped in a preliminary hearing. Soon after charges were dismissed, the officers filed a federal lawsuit against Bill Shaw, claiming a violation of their civil rights. In a further attempt at revenge, Bill Shaw convened a grand jury through the Attorney General’s office in Harrisburg to have charges refiled against the officers. Once again, due to a lack of evidence, charges were not filed, however these officers and their families had to endure the stress associated with the grand jury process.
I question Mrs. Davis’ motive for writing to you about her decision not to vote for me, since she is a registered Democrat and my name didn’t appear on her ballot. I will however be clear with my motive: By pursuing legal action against Bill Shaw, I want to make sure what happened to me and the Clearfield Police Officers doesn’t happen to Mrs. Davis, her family, and my fellow Clearfield County Citizens.
Sincerely,
Derek A. Walker
Bigler