The case of Beaver County Sheriff George David: He should be jailed pending trial

Given the circumstances of the criminal case against him and his violation of his $50,000 unsecured bond, Beaver County Sheriff George David should be awaiting his July trial behind bars, not on electronic house arrest, while state police and his attorney carry out elaborate procedures to not only secure his firearms collection but to prevent witness intimidation.

Citing the sheriff's elected position in allowing him to remain free, visiting Mercer County Senior Judge Francis J. Fornelli erred on the wrong side. He should have erred on the side of caution and safety, citing the risk that Mr. David clearly presents as reason to jail him.

The sheriff faces charges including intimidation, simple assault, harassment, terroristic threats and reckless endangerment. He's accused of threatening John Paul Vranesevich of the Beaver Countian news website with a pistol in April 2012 and threatening to cut off and eat a campaign volunteer's hands.

And on March 24, David blatantly violated terms of his bond by entering an area of the sheriff's department he'd been ordered to avoid — then “racking” a shotgun near a sergeant who had testified against him.

Yes, David is innocent until proven guilty. And, yes, we understand the purpose of bond is to guarantee the accused's appearance at trial. But his case raises so many red flags that allowing him to await trial outside jail is a threat to the public and to the criminal justice system.