Erie County to handle case involving Family Court candidate

The case involving an arrested local judge and current candidate for countywide office is being transferred elsewhere for processing.

Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt has announced that his office will not participate in the prosecution of Sally Jaroszynski for alleged election law violations. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office will be appointed as special prosecutor.

On October 8, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division received a complaint of possible election law violations. Following the investigation, Sally A. Jaroszynski, 57, of Ellicott, was charged with two counts of misconduct under state election law in connection with the petitions.

Jaroszynski is seeking the Family Court judge position being vacated by Judge Jeffrey A. Piazza at the end of the year.

She is a registered Republican and will be on the Working Families Party line in the upcoming November 5 election.

In both 2014 and 2016, Jaroszynski ran for Family Court judge on the Democratic ticket, but lost both times, in 2014 to Jeff Piazza and in 2016 to Michael Sullivan.

He is a lifelong resident of Chautauqua County and has practiced law in the Chautauqua County Family Court for over 30 years. She has been elected Ellicott Town Judge and has served in that capacity for 15 years.

On his campaign Facebook page, Jaroszynski criticized the timing of the arrest and questioned the lack of details. “I have NOT been informed of the specific allegations as my attorney and I have been DENIED our requests for copies of the allegations, supporting statements, or a copy of the alleged complaint received on October 8, 2024. I know that the allegations involve two alleged notary public violations in Conservative Party nomination petitions that were filed in April 2024 and certified by the Chautauqua County Board of Elections also in April 2024. The legal time to oppose or challenge my petitions has passed,” he wrote .

The decision to transfer the case avoids further conflicts of interest.

Andrew Molitor, first assistant district attorney in Schmidt’s office, is running for State Assembly. Molitor is the Republican candidate.

Jaroszynski’s opponent is Peter Johnson, who is the candidate endorsed by the Conservative and Republican Party.

Both Molitor and Johnson have been photographed campaigning together.