Assistant district attorney resigns amid DUI charges
An assistant district attorney in Washington County resigned this week after she was charged with driving under the influence.
Rachel Wheeler, 37, of North Strabane Township, submitted a letter of resignation Monday, and Tuesday was her last day, according to Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh.
Walsh clarified that Wheeler’s resignation was unrelated to the DUI charges North Strabane police filed against her Friday, and that she had already planned to leave the office. He declined to comment on the specific reason for her resignation.
Wheeler claimed to police that she was coming from a “Washington County district attorney going away party,” according to the criminal complaint. Walsh said Tuesday that Wheeler was referring to a private gathering that he did not attend and was not organized or sanctioned by his office.
Wheeler was arrested by North Strabane police the evening of June 21. According to police, at about 10 p.m. Wheeler was headed north on Route 19 and drove through a red light at the Racetrack Road intersection.
Charging documents state that her blood-alcohol content was 0.147 when she blew into a Breathalyzer at the scene.
Walsh said he has handed the case over to the office of Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli for prosecution.