Erie County to take up case involving Family Court candidate | News, Sports, Jobs

The case, which involves the current imprisoned city judge running for countywide office, is being transferred elsewhere for prosecution.

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

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

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

A registered Republican, he will run on the Working Families Party side in the upcoming Nov. 5 election.

Jaroszynski ran for a Democratic Family Court judge in both 2014 and 2016, but lost both times; To Jeff Piazza in 2014 and to Michael Sullivan in 2016.

He is a lifelong Chautauqua County resident and has practiced law in Chautauqua County Family Court for over 30 years. He was elected Ellicott Town Judge and has served in that position for 15 years.

On his campaign Facebook page, Jaroszynski criticized the timing of the arrest and questioned the lack of detail. “As my attorney, I was not notified of the specific allegations, and our requests for any copies of the allegations, supporting statements, or a copy of the alleged complaint received on October 8, 2024, were DENIED. I understand the allegations include the following: Two alleged Notarial violations related to Conservative Party nominating petitions filed in April 2024 and approved by the Chautauqua County Board of Elections also in April 2024. “The legal deadline to object or object to my petitions has already passed,” he wrote.

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

Andrew Molitor, who was First Assistant District Attorney in Schmidt’s office, is running for State Assembly. Molitor is the Republican candidate.

Jaroszynski’s opponent is Conservative and Republican Party-supported candidate Peter Johnson.

Both Molitor and Johnson were photographed together during the campaign.