Charges against Leetsdale councilman withdrawn due to 'improperly filed' complaint

Charges filed against Leetsdale councilman Wesley James were withdrawn Jan. 25 at a preliminary hearing in Forest Hills.

Mayor Sandra Ford had accused James of disorderly conduct and harassment in connection with an incident at a council workshop meeting Nov. 3.

She filed a private criminal complaint at the office of her husband, Sewickley District Judge Robert L. Ford.

The complaint states the mayor was at the council meeting when James “interrupted her in an aggressive manner jumping in her face, screaming, calling her names and acting as though he was going to strike her.”

State law allows for private citizens to file criminal complaints through the court system with certain restrictions.

For example, a complaint must be submitted to an attorney for the Commonwealth for approval. Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office gives an advisory above its online criminal complaint form.

“A person who knowingly makes any written false or fictitious statement or files a false or fictitious report to law enforcement authorities is subject to criminal prosecution,” the advisory states.

Sandra Ford’s complaint was approved by Ohara Hamlin, who was listed as a legal intern at the state Attorney General’s Office, and signed off on by Magistrate Ford.

The case was moved to Forest Hills due to a conflict of interest with the Ford family, and heard by Judge Thomas R. Torkowsky.

Charges were withdrawn by Assistant District Attorney Connon Adair after a discussion with James’ attorney, Greg Stein, and prior to any witnesses being called.

“It was improperly filed in the first place,” Adair said about the complaint. He declined further comment.

James did not respond to multiple attempts seeking comment.

Stein only stated there were “ongoing ethical concerns” about the case and declined further comment.

James sat with his attorney in the courtroom while Sandra Ford, council president Patricia Lee, vice president Maria Napolitano, councilman Osman Awad and a few others sat in the lobby of the magistrate’s office awaiting for the case to be called.

They expressed disappointment with not being able to have a hearing.

Sandra Ford said she was never told it was improper to file her complaint at the Sewickley magistrate’s office.

“It’s all wrong and I’m going to refile it,” she said about the complaint. “I’ve been harassed a year by this particular person. He thinks he’s above the law and he got away with this.”

The other council members all declined comment.

Police Chief Daniel Raible in December said he routinely attends council voting meetings and not workshops.

He could not confirm nor deny if an officer was at the Nov. 3 meeting.

“There is no investigation through this agency (as to what may have taken place Nov. 3),” Raible said. “It has nothing to do with the Leetsdale Police Department. If there were charges filed, they were not filed by Leetsdale police.”