DA’s Sex-For-Fees Conviction Leads To Consent Disbarment

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court accepted a consent to disbarment on these averments by the former Bradford County District Attorney

On May 7, 2021, I pled guilty to one count of promoting prostitution, a felony of the third degree; one count of obstruction of law, a misdemeanor of the second degree; and one count of intimidation of witnesses or victims, a misdemeanor of the second degree.

 I acknowledge that the factual basis for this plea is that I did: exchange legal services/fees for sexual acts with L.J., N.A., H.H., A.M., L.W. thereby causing another to become or remain a prostitute and did direct those persons to refrain from reporting crimes to law enforcement and did pervert the administration of justice by seeking to influence grand jury witnesses.

Star Gazette reported on the criminal case

Salsman, who resigned after pleading guilty, was arrested in early February after a year-long investigation by Pennsylvania State Police, who built their case on stories from five accusers, most of whom claimed Salsman assaulted them on his law office desk in lieu of his legal fees.

Then, he pressured them to keep silent, even as the state’s investigation of him was underway.

“Chad Salsman coerced vulnerable Pennsylvanians because he thought his victims would be easy to silence and less likely to be believed if they ever came forward. Instead, they spoke out and we listened,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Joshua Shapiro, whose office prosecuted the case, said Friday after the sentencing.

(Mike Frisch)