CLARION CO., Pa. (EYT) — Clarion County Chief Public Defender Erich Spessard is resigning to take a position as Assistant District Attorney for the county.

Spessard confirmed Wednesday morning that he submitted a notice of his intent to resign as the Chief Public Defender for Clarion County to take on the new role in the Clarion County District Attorney’s office.

“I’m trying to tie up as many loose ends on my cases as I can before officially starting as ADA,” Spessard told exploreClarion.com.

Spessard will be filling a vacancy that will open as Assistant District Attorney Drew Welsh takes on the District Attorney position following his recent election.

Spessard has served as Chief Public Defender since 2013, personally managing over 1,000 criminal cases. He has also served on the Criminal Justice Advisory Board, the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court team, and the Behavioral Health Court team.

He attended Clarion University and earned his law degree at William and Mary Law School. He worked for a short while at the Allegheny County Public Defender’s office before deciding to return to Clarion to plant his “roots.”

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