TOWANDA, PA. (WENY) -- Bradford County District Attorney Chad Salsman has pleaded guilty to some of the charges he was facing after at least five women accused him of sexual misconduct. 

The plea came during a motions hearing in Bradford County Court on Friday. Salsman appeared in court with only his attorney. He showed no emotion, while pleading guilty to three charges and agreeing to resign from his position as Bradford County District Attorney. Salsman was previously charged with:  

Three counts of Sexual Assault 
Five counts of Indecent Assault 
Five counts of Witness Intimidation 
One count of Obstruction of Administration of Law or Other Governmental Function 
One count of Promoting Prostitution 

During the hearing, Salsman pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution - a third degree felony, obstruction of law and witness intimidation - both second degree misdemeanors. Additionally, he announced he would resign as District Attorney for Bradford County. The resignation is effective at 5:00 p.m. Friday evening.  

Court officials tell WENY News that under this plea deal, all the other charges were dismissed; the prosecution says they spoke with the five victims, who all said they agreed with this plea deal as long as Salsman was found guilty of the felony charge of promoting prostitution and that he resigned from office. 

As WENY News reported, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced in February the victims were represented by Salsman as a private attorney. Several of the assaults reportedly happened in Salsman’s private office and AG Shapiro reported at least one happened after Salsman was elected District Attorney in 2019, but before he was sworn into office.  

WENY News spoke to a Bradford County resident who says Salsman previously represented her daughter during a prior custody case during the same time he was committing crimes against other women. The woman did not want to give her name, but tells WENY News they had no issues with him and was shocked to learn what he had done.

"It gives me chills and goosebumps just thinking that she was going down there during this time and its scary. Its really scary to know that this was happening at that time. Its just hard to believe that it happened and that he's actually pleading guilty. I think he should get what he deserves. The justice for the girls, they shouldn't have had to go through that. They went to him for help and he did this to them, it's wrong," says Bradford County resident. 

The Bradford County resident added, "He just lost his future. He has no future now so he's got a lot of time to think about that."

Salsman faces up to 11 years in state prison and fines up to $25,000. Salsman will remain free until his sentencing on July 9th. 

Salsman's attorney told the judge that Salsman is currently seeing a therapist. 

According to the Attorney General's office, some of the victims were women Salsman was representing in criminal and child custody cases; Shapiro said Salsman would allegedly “take advantage of their vulnerabilities, exploiting them and forcing them into submission and silence”. AG Shapiro had previously said his office believes there are more victims.  

AG Shapiro reacted to the guilty plea Friday morning. His statement reads, in part: 
 

“As Attorney General, I have a responsibility to stand up for the most vulnerable in our Commonwealth. Chad Salsman used his position as a private attorney, and then as the District Attorney, to intimidate and silence his victims and interfere with our investigation. Today is a powerful reminder that no one is above the law,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “To date, we’ve arrested 90 public officials for charges related to public corruption, including embezzlement, sexual assault, and other abuses of power. My Office will continue to seek justice for victims as we uncover public corruption — wherever it lies.”

The Attorney General's statement goes on to say: 

With this admission of guilt, the Office of Attorney General has ensured Mr. Salsman faces serious consequences, without retraumatizing vulnerable victims who came forward and testified to the Grand Jury. Despite Mr. Salsman’s efforts to interfere in the investigation and his claims that the Grand Jury was politically motivated, today he is taking responsibility for his actions.