The Butler County district attorney has responded to a threat that was made against him over the weekend.
State police say 25-year-old Brittany Hartos of Butler called a crisis hotline on Saturday and while on the phone, threatened to kill Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger “threatening to go to Goldinger’s house and work if necessary to kill him,” according to a state police report.
Goldinger told the Butler Eagle that this was the first time in his tenure as DA that he was made aware of any alleged threats.
In a statement on Monday, Goldinger thanked the Pennsylvania State Police for their diligent work and said he was thankful that the individual who made the threat was taken into custody before the threat could be carried out.
“Everyday, my office and other prosecutor offices across the nation must make difficult decisions that may not be popular. In those instances, there are peaceful, law-abiding avenues for people to voice their concerns in the system. Defendants are afforded constitutional rights and a voice through their state’s Office of Victim Advocate. At no time is violence or the threat of violence an acceptable way to demonstrate an opinion.”
Goldinger’s office has referred the matter to the state attorney general’s office and says he will have no further comment as the case proceeds through the criminal justice system.
“I cannot get into the mind of the individual who made the threat against me, and I will not speculate,” he said.
Goldinger ended his statement with again thanking the state police and local municipal police departments for their response.
“Their quick actions allowed my family and I to feel secure,” he said.
More on the Butler woman who made the alleged threat can be found here.