Pier Hess Graf wins Republican primary for Lebanon Co. DA, will likely serve another term
With all 60 precincts reporting in and mail-in votes counted, Graf received 2,437 votes while senior public defender Michael Light II received 1,394 votes. No one ran on the Democratic ticket.
'The most humbling moment of my life was taking the oath as Lebanon County's District Attorney – to have the responsibility of protecting the community where I was born and raised,' Graf said when she announced her re-election campaign.
According to a release by Graf in December, she took 105 defendants to trial during her 15-year career as a local prosecutor. Since becoming District Attorney in 2020, Graf claims she has a 100% conviction rate, and secured first-degree guilty verdicts in each homicide case she personally tried.
As Lebanon County District Attorney, Graf presided over several high profile cases, including against Kimberly Maurer, who was convicted for the torture and murder of 11-year-old Maxwell Schollenberger.
'Our trial team spent years preparing for this trial. Every day, we sifted through evidence and listened to witnesses who detailed the cruelty and utter depravity that was Maxwell's all-too-short life," Graf said. "Knowing his killers will die in prison and never hurt a child again is one of the most meaningful accomplishments in my career."
Graf also oversaw the investigation into the shooting death of Lebanon city police Lt. William Lebo in 2022. Lebo died in a shootout with a man who had broken into a home on the 1100 block of Forest Street.
'Being a prosecutor defines me to my core. I've spent my career in court aggressively facing heinous, violent, amoral criminals who preyed upon the innocent people of our community,' she said in her announcement release.
The Pennsylvania 2025 municipal election is scheduled for Nov. 4.
Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth.
This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Pier Hess Graf wins Republican nomination for Lebanon Co. DA
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Cincinnati official under fire for celebrating brutal attack: ‘They begged for that beat down!'
A city councilwoman in Cincinnati is under fire for comments posted on Facebook in the wake of a brutal downtown beatdown last weekend. Under a post from a Facebook user called Leohna Alia La JCannon that shows the vicious assault, an account that appears to belong to Councilwoman Victoria Parks commented, 'They begged for that beat down!' Advertisement 'I am grateful for the whole story,' the comment continues. The comment links back to a Facebook account for Victoria Parks, who lists her job title as City Council Member at City of Cincinnati Government. The account also says she was formerly the commissioner at Hamilton County, Ohio Government and the former Chief of Staff to Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune at Hamilton County. That information lines up with Parks' biography on the City of Cincinnati's official website. Advertisement Cincinnati's city council is officially nonpartisan, but Parks, like all nine members of the governing body, was endorsed by the local Democratic party. The Facebook page has posts dating back several years, mostly relating to work experience. 5 A woman lies on the street after being knocked unconscious during a brawl in Cincinnati, Ohio. X 5 Cincinnati City Councilwoman Victoria Parks. Victoria Parks/Facebook Advertisement Parks appears to have a second Facebook page as well, which last posted on May 27. A third account, last posted updated 2022, also appears to belong to Parks. The comments sparked an online firestorm, with a screenshot of the post being circulated widely. 'Cincinnati Councilwoman Victoria Parks must resign immediately! Defending violent criminals who viciously beat innocent people is disgusting,' Ohio's 39th District State Rep. Phil Plummer said on X. 'Her words 'They begged for that beat down!' are outrageous. Prosecutors must charge the attackers with a hate crime. We must protect our streets!' Advertisement 5 A crowd forms in downtown Cincinnati during the nighttime brawl. X 5 Several people throw punches at others during the chaotic scene. X 'You're a racist pig, Victoria Parks,' said another post. 'THIS IS INSANE!' said a third person, calling for Parks' resignation. The beatings occurred on the corner of Fourth and Elm Street in Cincinnati's downtown business district in the early morning hours on Saturday. 5 Victoria Parks announced that she would not seek reelection, and will retire after her current term ends. Victoria Parks/Facebook Video that has been shared widely online shows a group of people savagely assaulting two others during a confrontation, with a woman being knocked out cold in the street. In her official city biography page, Parks says she 'led the charge in passing Racism as a Public Health Crisis' when working for the Hamilton County governor. Advertisement It also says she 'introduced, and passed, Juneteenth as a paid holiday for Hamilton County employees.' In January, Parks announced that she would not seek reelection, and will retire after her current term ends. 'It's unconscionable that an elected official would be celebrating violence in the very city she was voted to serve,' Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police President Ken Kober told Fox News Digital. 'This highlights the poor political environment that police officers, residents and visitors are currently enduring. Thankfully, there's an election in November. I urge voters to vote for change!' Advertisement Parks did not return requests for comment. An email to the entire city council also went unreturned. A representative for the city council declined to comment by phone, directing Fox News Digital to Parks herself. Mollie Lair, the Communications Director for the Cincinnati City Manager's Office, viewed the photo in person at cityhall, but declined to comment.
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Florida set to execute man for killing wife, 2 kids in new state death sentence record for 1 year
STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man convicted of killing his wife and two children with a machete in 1994 is set for execution Thursday, which would be the ninth death sentence carried out in 2025 to set a new state record for a single year. A 10th execution is scheduled for Aug. 19 and an 11th on Aug. 28. A death warrant signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis directs that 60-year-old Edward Zakrzewski be executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. Thursday at Florida State Prison near Starke. Zakrzewski's final appeal for a stay was rejected Wednesday by the U.S. Supreme Court. The highest previous annual total of recent Florida executions is eight in 2014, since the death penalty was restored in 1976 by the U.S. Supreme Court. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, while Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place with four each. Zakrzewski, an Air Force veteran, was sentenced to die for the 1994 slayings of his 34-year-old wife, Sylvia, and their children Edward, 7, and 5-year-old Anna, at their home in Okaloosa County in the Panhandle. Trial testimony showed he committed the killings after his wife sought a divorce, and he had told others he would kill his family rather than allow that. Sylvia was attacked first with a crowbar and strangled with a rope, testimony shows. Both children were killed with the machete, and Sylvia was also struck with the blade when Zakrzewski thought she had survived the previous assault. Opponents of the execution point to Zakrzewski's military service and the fact that a jury voted 7-5 to recommend his execution, barely a majority of the panel. He could not be executed with such a split jury vote under current state law. The trial judge imposed three death sentences on Zakrzewski. The Action Network, which organized an anti-execution petition, asked people to call DeSantis' office and read a prepared script urging a stay of execution for Zakrzewski. 'Florida does not need the death penalty to be safe. This execution will not make us safer, it will simply add another act of violence to an already tragic story. Justice does not require death,' the script reads in part. Zakrzewski's lawyers have filed numerous appeals over the years, all of which have been rejected. Twenty-six men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the U.S., and 11 other people are scheduled to be put to death in seven states during the remainder of 2025. Florida was also the last state to execute someone, when Michael Bernard Bell died by lethal injection on July 15. DeSantis also signed a warrant for the 10th execution this year for Kayle Bates, who abducted a woman from an insurance office and killed her more than four decades ago. Wednesday night, DeSantis issued a death warrant for Curtis Windom, 59, convicted of killing three people in the Orlando area in 1992. His execution is scheduled for Aug. 28.
Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Florida set to execute man for killing wife, 2 kids in new state death sentence record for 1 year
STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man convicted of killing his wife and two children with a machete in 1994 is set for execution Thursday, which would be the ninth death sentence carried out in 2025 to set a new state record for a single year. A 10th execution is scheduled for Aug. 19 and an 11th on Aug. 28. A death warrant signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis directs that 60-year-old Edward Zakrzewski be executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. Thursday at Florida State Prison near Starke. Zakrzewski's final appeal for a stay was rejected Wednesday by the U.S. Supreme Court. The highest previous annual total of recent Florida executions is eight in 2014, since the death penalty was restored in 1976 by the U.S. Supreme Court. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, while Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place with four each. Zakrzewski, an Air Force veteran, was sentenced to die for the 1994 slayings of his 34-year-old wife, Sylvia, and their children Edward, 7, and 5-year-old Anna, at their home in Okaloosa County in the Panhandle. Trial testimony showed he committed the killings after his wife sought a divorce, and he had told others he would kill his family rather than allow that. Sylvia was attacked first with a crowbar and strangled with a rope, testimony shows. Both children were killed with the machete, and Sylvia was also struck with the blade when Zakrzewski thought she had survived the previous assault. Opponents of the execution point to Zakrzewski's military service and the fact that a jury voted 7-5 to recommend his execution, barely a majority of the panel. He could not be executed with such a split jury vote under current state law. The trial judge imposed three death sentences on Zakrzewski. The Action Network, which organized an anti-execution petition, asked people to call DeSantis' office and read a prepared script urging a stay of execution for Zakrzewski. 'Florida does not need the death penalty to be safe. This execution will not make us safer, it will simply add another act of violence to an already tragic story. Justice does not require death,' the script reads in part. Zakrzewski's lawyers have filed numerous appeals over the years, all of which have been rejected. Twenty-six men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the U.S., and 11 other people are scheduled to be put to death in seven states during the remainder of 2025. Florida was also the last state to execute someone, when Michael Bernard Bell died by lethal injection on July 15. DeSantis also signed a warrant for the 10th execution this year for Kayle Bates , who abducted a woman from an insurance office and killed her more than four decades ago. Wednesday night, DeSantis issued a death warrant for Curtis Windom, 59, convicted of killing three people in the Orlando area in 1992. His execution is scheduled for Aug. 28. Florida uses a three-drug cocktail for its lethal injection: a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state Department of Corrections. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
