New details about how Mercer County's District Attorney allegedly abused his power and influence to repeatedly help a woman the Attorney General believes he was linked to romantically.

But at a news conference in Butler, PA, District Attorney Miles Karson with his attorney by his side told news reporters, "I assure you that I've committed no offense.  And I'm anxious to fight the allegations made in a courtroom.  In the meantime, I intend to perform my duties as the District Attorney of Mercer County.  It will be business as usual."

District Attorney Karson said he learned of the allegations against him from a news reporter, and he says he was definitely surprised.  He went on to say that it would be inappropriate for him to comment on the charges that have been put out in the news media.  He says he's a firm believer in the court system, he has a great trust in the legal process and he's confident that the case will eventually be resolved in his favor.

However, a cloud hangs over the halls of justice in Mercer County as the man considered to be the top law enforcement officer finds himself on the other side of the law.

"I assure you that I've committed no offense, and I'm anxious to fight the allegations made in a courtroom," Karson said.

Karson's Attorney Al Lindsay also says D.A. Karson will not be resigning even though there are reports that some attorneys are calling for him to step down.

District Attorney Karson is facing 17 criminal charges and accused of using his position to influence several investigations and charges against a woman who he's alleged to have had a romantic relationship with.

The Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro is releasing more information following the filing of those criminal charges against Mercer County District Attorney Miles Karson. 

According to a criminal complaint filed by Shapiro's office on Thursday, 72-year-old Karson is accused of using his position as the D.A. to influence several investigations and/or charges against a woman, whom the complaint says Karson was in a romantic relationship with. 

Karson is accused of attempting to intervene in a case in which the woman was accused of stealing more than $30,000 from a local business. In that instance, the complaint says that Karson told the victim of the theft to "be lenient" and to "feel sorry" for the woman. 

In a separate allegation, the criminal complaint says that on two separate occasions Karson arrived at the scene of car accidents involving the woman and sent her away before she could be tested for driving under the influence. The complaint says that on both occasions she was suspected of being under the influence. 

In addition, Karson faces charges of using his position as district attorney to impact a child custody case involving an ex-boyfriend of the woman. Karson allegedly told attorneys that there was an active drug investigation against the man in order to influence the case. 

Karson then reportedly used his power to contact the Mercer County Jail and request recordings of that man's phone conversations and signed documentation that it was for official purposes. 

The criminal complaint also says that Karson on several occasions contacted other judges and asked for the woman to be released on unsecured bond. 

In one charge, the Attorney General's office says that Karson contacted a probation officer after the woman failed a drug test. He allegedly asked the probation officer "can you do me a favor and not take her to jail today?". 

The charges go on to say that Karson and the woman were romantically involved during the course of most of the allegations. 

In addition, police were called out to what appeared to be a domestic dispute involving Karson and the woman. According to the complaint, Karson waved the officers away and told them that everything was fine, resulting in police not investigating further. 

In a statement from the Attorney General's Office Shapiro said that the details of the case against Karson are "disturbing" and that "no one is above the law". 

That full statement can be read here:

Statement of Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Criminal Charges Filed against Mercer County District Attorney Miles Karson

“Yesterday the 40th statewide investigating grand jury returned a presentment and, as a result, criminal misdemeanor charges were filed against Mercer County District Attorney Miles Karson.

“The details of this investigation are disturbing and revealed that Karson intentionally obstructed the administration of law through breaches of his official duties, interfered with the rights of others through abuse of power vested in his office and hindered the apprehension and prosecution of a paramour.

“No one is above the law – whether it’s a drug dealer on the street corner or an elected public official.”

According to the Public Information Officer for Mercer County, under Pennsylvania Law, a public official can still perform their official duties while under investigation for criminal actions. 

The full criminal complaint can be viewed here: