Patrick Dougherty for District Attorney

Indiana, PA – Patrick Dougherty announced today that he intends to run as a Democratic candidate for the office of Indiana County District Attorney.

“I am dedicated to ensuring that we will have a strong, vibrant and safe community through the aggressive prosecution of criminals,” said Dougherty. “As District Attorney, I will work hard to deliver justice to the people Indiana County, the victims of crime, and their families.”

A lifelong resident of Indiana County, Dougherty is the son of the late Owen and Virginia Dougherty. He graduated from Indiana Area High School in 1992. In 1997, he graduated Cum Laude from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and went on to graduate from Duquesne University School of Law in 2000.

While in law school, Dougherty was a legal intern at the national level with the United States Attorneys Office, Homicide Prosecution Unit in Washington, D.C., and with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Office of Disciplinary Counsel. After graduation, he served as a judicial law clerk to President Judge William Martin and Judge Gregory A. Olson in the Indiana Court of Common Pleas.

He spent six years as Assistant District Attorney under District Attorney Robert S. Bell and currently is the First Assistant District Attorney under District Attorney Thomas M. Bianco, a role in which Dougherty has obtained first-hand managerial experience assisting in the handling of the office budget and personnel.

While working in the District Attorney’s office, Dougherty has successfully prosecuted a significant number of cases to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of Indiana County, including those involving homicides and First Degree Murder, sexual assaults, school shootings, child abuse, aggravated assaults, a wide variety of drug and alcohol violations and other criminal violations.

“My trial experience rests upon the successful prosecution of complicated and serious crimes that have taken place in our county,” Dougherty stated. “As District Attorney, I will be dedicated to using our court systems as a means of making Indiana County a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

In addition to his work as a prosecutor, Dougherty was a member of the law office of Michael S. Delaney from 2001 to 2009 and currently is a partner in Delaney, Dougherty and Fritz, P.C. He also serves a solicitor for Homer City Borough, Central Indiana County Water Authority, Blairsville Borough, Green Township Fair Association, Literacy Links for Little Ones, Saving Soles and the VFW Post 1989.

An active member of the community, Dougherty has served on the Board of Indiana County United Way, was the founding board member of the Indiana County Camp Cadet and provided instruction and guidance to the students as the Attorney Advisor for the Indiana Area Senior High School and the Homer-Center High School Mock Trial teams.

Dougherty belongs to the St. Thomas More University Parish where he serves as Eucharistic Minister and Lector. He is also a member of the Father McNellis Council of the Knights of Columbus.

Dougherty resides in White Township with his wife, Amy, and their two children, Garrison and Charleigh.