The race for Chautauqua County District Attorney continues to heat up and one of the candidates continues to raise concerns about a controversy surrounding the bail recommendation for a kidnapping suspect in Fredonia. Jason Schmidt is calling on Acting D.A. Patrick Swanson to apologize for misleading the public and falsely accusing Fredonia Village Justice David Prince of committing a Criminal Procedure Law violation. Schmidt told WDOE News he has learned that contrary to accusations made by Swanson, the District Attorney's Office was aware of Samuel Saeli's arrest prior to his arraignment and yet failed to appear at the arraignment proceeding to advocate for a high bail...
Schmidt-District Attorney's Office was aware of arrest
Judge Prince had set Saeli's bail at $10,000 cash or $20,000 property bond for second degree kidnapping, a class B felony following the incident involving a 13-year-old autistic child on August 14. Saeli posted bail, but was picked up last week for violation of probation. He's currently in the County Jail without bail. When reached by WDOE News, Patrick Swanson says he stands by the original statement in which he says his office was not notified of the arraignment by the village court.
