By Glenn Harbison, News-Observer Publisher
Brian Pritchard is scheduled to get his day in court next month to defend allegations he voted illegally in Georgia while on felony probation in Pennsylvania.
According to an order filed May 11, a hearing is scheduled Wednesday, July 19, at noon in Courtroom B in the Gilmer County Courthouse.
The order was signed by Administrative Law Judge Lisa Boggs.
The order said the matter was referred to the court Dec. 1, 2022, and since then, a prehearing telephone conference has been pushed back at least four times “due to the continued extension of a medical leave of absence” by Pritchard’s counsel.
“While the court recognizes the challenges facing the Respondent’s (Pritchard’s) counsel, the fact remains that this case has been pending for five months with no significant action taken.” The court then set the July hearing, “to minimize further delay.”
Pritchard is accused of voting multiple times in Gilmer County while on probation for a trio of felonies in Pennsylvania. The votes are alleged to have taken place between 2008 and 2014.
Pritchard pled guilty in the Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County to two counts of Forgery-After Writing and one count of Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition Funds. He received probation, fines and was ordered to pay restitution.
Pritchard has said he has a pardon for the Pennsylvania crimes.
On Nov. 8, 2017, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a pardon restoring Pritchard’s civil and political rights. Those rights included serving on a jury and running for and holding political office.
However, Liz Evans Scolforo, director of pardons and communications for the Office of Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, said, “The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons has no record for having issued a pardon for Brian Keith Pritchard.”
Pennsylvania court records showed in December 2022 that only $1,080 of $33,340 in restitution ordered paid by Pritchard in the Allegheny County case has been paid.
Pennsylvania court records also showed a case in the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County against Pritchard in which he pled guilty to a single charge of bad checks. He was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution in that case, none of which was indicated as paid.
The Georgia Election Board requested Dec. 1, 2022, a hearing be held in regards to the allegations against Pritchard early January 2023.
Pritchard qualified Monday, Dec. 5, to run for the state House of Representatives seat left vacant by the untimely death of Speaker of the House David Ralston.
In a statement, Pritchard said, “They are allegations. Let’s be clear. I have not been charged with anything.”
He said, “I think this is all a setup.”
Brian Pritchard was elected first vice chairman of the Georgia Republican Party during the party’s state convention Saturday, June 10.