Anne Arundel County Executive Charged with Misconduct

Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold's political opponent in 2010 reacted angrily to Friday's news that the Republican was  that included using police officers to trash her campaign signs during the election. 

"It's important that we hold our elected officials accountable for their actions," said Joanna Conti, the Democrat who ran against Leopold in the 2010 election.

"If these allegations are true," she added, "he is not fit to hold office and should resign immediately."

Leopold is accused of ordering local police officers to drive him to locations throughout Anne Arundel County where he would remove Conti's campaign signs, according to a press release from the Maryland State Prosecutor's office.

The officers also picked up and deposited campaign contributions while on duty and kept dossiers on Leopold's political opponent, the indictment alleges.

Officers frequently drove Leopold to parking lots where he would engage in sexual activity with another county employee in a separate vehicle, according to the indictment.

"I find it outrageous that he asked trained police officers to wait while he had sex..." said Conti.

In addition, Conti said it was "pathetic" that Leopold had his drivers pull over to remove her signs during the campaign, which she said were reportedly thrown in a ravine and the woods.

County Councilman Jamie Benoit (D-Laurel/Fort Meade/Odenton), a former attorney, said that he was most alarmed by the fraud charge, which could result in Leopold facing jail time if convicted.

“A fraud charge is really serious business," Benoit said.

County Councilman Chris Trumbaurer (D-Edgewater/Annapolis) expressed sadness that the county executive was indicted.

"He is entitled to a fair hearing and due process under the law," said Trumbauer. "However, should these allegations prove to be true, it will be yet another example of someone in power betraying the public's trust. I have very little tolerance for scandal and corruption in public office."

Ray Leone of Edgewater, Anne Arundel County PTA President, said that he had some personal dealings with Leopold.

“The accusations that came out against him and some of the things, I’m pretty sure he did,” said Leone, who owns and operates a toy store in the .

Leone said he spoke with people connected to the alleged parking lot incident.

Leopold reportedly asked his security detail to to escort him to the parking lot for “sexual activity with another county employee [in 2010],” reported the state prosecutor's office Friday.

Others, however, said they did not see evidence of intentional wrongdoing.

"I didn't see anything going on, so I can't really say firsthand that I know what happened," said Stephen Clark Reigle, campaign treasurer for Leopold and president of the District 32 Republican Club.

"I signed the checks and filed my paperwork, and I gave the checks to the people I was supposed to give them to," Reigle said. "From what I know, John believes he'll be [found innocent]....It will go to trial, and all the truth will come out and I guess we'll know in the end."

Leopold asked citizens to reserve judgment against him and said that he was "disheartened" by the on Friday. In a prepared statement, Leopold said he hadn't seen the allegations so it was inappropriate for him to comment on them.

He added that the questions related to the "scurrilous and salacious accusations" must be resolved through the judicial process.

"In a court of law, all sides have the opportunity to present evidence and argument, as opposed to the grand jury process which can be manipulated," he said in the statement.

Patch editors Maya Prabhu, John Wilfong, Jonathan Moynihan and Tim Lemke contributed to this article.