WASHINGTON — Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney Theo Stamos confirmed to WTOP that she is now leading the new felony prosecution of Del. Joe Morrissey, who is already spending his nights in jail and his days on the House floor.
The new charges, announced last week, are tied to Morrissey’s plea to contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Prosecutors who presented the new case to a grand jury say Morrissey lied and used fake court documents as part of his plea deal and his continued denials that he had a sexual relationship with a then-17-year-old girl who was working in his law office.
The girl’s mother is also charged with felonies related to the documents, which prosecutors say are related to whether the girl’s father owed child support.
Morrissey was serving in the General Assembly as a Democrat, resigned after the plea, then won reelection a few weeks ago as an independent.
Morrissey is scheduled to return to court on the new charges Feb. 9.
This is not the first time Stamos has been chosen as a special prosecutor for a case involving an elected official.
Although the circumstances were much different, Stamos was also appointed as special prosecutor in the case against Republican Loudoun County Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio. The case, sparked by an aide’s complaint, was eventually dropped, but the grand jury issued a report critical of Delgaudio, and he was censured by his Loudoun County Board colleagues.
