Bedford’s assistant DA returns to work, others remain on leave

Commissioners take steps to ‘protect county’s interests’

BEDFORD -- The temporary administrative leave of the Bedford County District Attorney office staff is for an "indeterminable" amount of time, the new District Attorney Lesley Childers-Potts told the Mirror Tuesday.

There were three people working in the District Attorney's Office Tuesday, including Childers-Potts and a secretary who was transferred from the sheriff's department.

Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Thomas told WJAC-TV that he was back to work for the week Tuesday morning.

Childers-Potts told the television station that she is considering each staff member's employment one at a time and that Thomas' employment was her first consideration.

Prior to William Higgins' resignation last week amid allegations of exchanging sex for overly lenient sentences of female drug dealers and for exposing undercover informants, the office had six staff members including the district attorney as of Jan. 1, according to Michael Clapper, county finance department administrator.

Childers-Potts said Friday that she placed the staff on administrative leave to address certain issues and concerns during the transition of Higgins' resignation.

On the same day of his resignation, Higgins pleaded not guilty to 31 misdemeanor charges, including 11 counts of obstruction of law enforcement, nine counts of intimidation of a witness, six counts of hindering prosecution, three counts of recklessly endangering another person and two counts of official oppression.

The Bedford County commissioners said they are taking steps to help "protect the county's interests" within their scope of authority at Tuesday's public meeting.

"These steps included securing county financial records, bank accounts and access to county technology and facilities," Commis­sioner Josh Lang read from a press statement. "The commissioners have arranged for an independent audit of funds handled by the District Attorney's Office and have met with all the agencies and departments that were affected by this matter.

"As a public official holding a constitutional office, Ms. Childers-Potts will have control over all matters within the jurisdiction of the office. The county commissioners will fulfill their role of providing adequate financial support, proper facilities and such other support as she may request to enable her to work towards her goal of rebuilding public trust in the office," he said.

Judge Travis Livengood said he cannot comment on Higgins' case since it is ongoing. He also said Bedford County Court proceedings are continuing as normal.

Lang confirmed Childers-Potts is working full time as district attorney. In her previous position as first assistant district attorney, Childers-Potts made a yearly salary of $45,544. Now, as district attorney, she will be making an annual salary of $179,299.

Mirror Staff Writer Shen Wu Tan is at 946-7457.