Bedford DA resigns, is charged with abuse of power
Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins resigned Wednesday after he was charged with abusing his power by allegedly giving several women convicted of crimes leniency in exchange for sexual favors, the state Attorney General’s office said.
Mr. Higgins, 43, a Republican who has served Bedford County since 2004, faces charges recommended by a grand jury after a yearslong investigation. He turned himself in to authorities Wednesday morning and waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
The attorney general’s office charged Mr. Higgins with obstructing administration of law or other governmental function, official oppression, recklessly endangering another person, intimidation of witnesses or victims and hindering apprehension or prosecution.
“District Attorney Higgins traded his power and law enforcement authority for sexual favors and violated his oath to the people of Bedford County — compromising the security of his community and the safety of confidential
informants,” state Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement.
“Higgins’ conduct and manipulation of these women was a complete betrayal of the trust of the good citizens of Bedford County — who elected him to enforce the law and keep them safe. Today, with our partners in the Pennsylvania State Police, we are ending this culture and working to restore trust in the Bedford County District Attorney’s Office.”
State police Cpl. James A. Aughinbaugh wrote in a criminal complaint that he began investigating the district attorney following numerous complaints about Mr. Higgins’ conduct.
The investigation, according to the criminal complaint, revealed that Mr. Higgins intentionally compromised drug investigations by refusing to authorize a valid search warrant, refused to file criminal charges in some cases and disclosed the identity of multiple confidential informants, putting their lives in danger.
The criminal complaint details Mr. Higgins’ interactions with three women with whom he had relationships. The women were not identified in court documents.
In June 2015, the complaint said, Mr. Higgins refused to approve a search warrant for the home of a suspected drug dealer in Bedford County even though two witnesses reported seeing a large amount of heroin and cocaine in her residence. Mr. Higgins later told the woman that he “saved her ass,” according to the complaint.
Mr. Higgins in August 2015 told a female drug dealer the identity of a confidential informant, one of at least nine instances he revealed such information to drug dealers, according to the complaint. The woman later refused to sell drugs to the informant, the complaint said.
Mr. Higgins also helped a woman who was charged with driving under the influence in Somerset County, according to the complaint. The woman was on probation for a burglary conviction in Bedford County when she was charged with DUI in 2016, the complaint said.
Mr. Higgins called her probation officer’s supervisor and told him that no probation violation should be issued because the case against her was weak. The Somerset County district attorney said she never told Mr. Higgins that the case against the woman was weak.
When Mr. Higgins found out about the grand jury, he told the women not to cooperate with investigators, according to the complaint.
Steve Passarello, an attorney representing Mr. Higgins, said the district attorney maintains his innocence. Mr. Higgins pleaded not guilty to all charges when he was arraigned Wednesday.
Mr. Higgins released a statement that said in part: “I have been accused of engaging in conduct unbecoming of a district attorney, but more importantly, unbecoming of a husband and father. Unfortunately, for legal reasons, I cannot comment on the validity of these accusations at this time. I have faith in the criminal justice process that I have been a part of for my entire legal career.
“I have concluded that, in light of these charges, I am not able to effectively fulfill my duties as District Attorney and that my family needs my full attention. It has been a great honor and privilege to serve as a prosecutor in this community for the past 18 years. I hope I have made a positive difference.”
In 2008, a woman accused Mr. Higgins of sexually assaulting her his office at the Bedford County Courthouse. Authorities declined to file charges then.