A Henrico County Circuit court judge struck down the four felony counts which accused former Virginia Delegate Joseph Morrissey, who if convicted would have faced up to a 40-year jail sentence, of creating a document that showed that the teen’s father agreed put $50 every week into her college fund. Judge Alfred Swersky ruled a plea agreement rendered Morrissey immune from further charges.
In December, Morrissey pleaded guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a 17-year-old girl, who last month gave birth to a baby boy.
"We always felt that the indictments should never have been brought," he told the Richmond-Times Dispatch in reference to the perjury charges. "The court obviously agreed with that; (the judge) didn't need to hear any evidence."
The prosecution said it is considering appealing the decision.
