HomeMy WebLinkAbout855-S, DeMottPHONE; 717-783-1610
TOLL FREE: 1-800-932-0936
In Re; Robert DeMott,
Respondent
STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
FINANCE BUILDING
613 NORTH STREET, ROOM 309
HARRISBURG, PA 17120-0400
File Docket:
26-020-P
Order No.
855-S
Date Decided:
7/23/26
Date Mailed:
7/24/26
Before: Michael A. Schwartz, Chair
David L. Reddecliff, Vice Chair
Paul E. Parsells
Robert P. Caruso
Emilia McKee Vassallo
Ronald N. Jumper, Jr.
FACSIMILE: 717-787-0806
WEBSITE: www.ethics.pa.aov
This is a final adjudication of the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission as to the alleged
delinquency and/or deficiency of Statement(s) of Financial Interests required to be filed pursuant
to Sections 1104 and 1105 of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65
Pa.C.S. § 1101 et M.
The Investigative Division initiated these proceedings by filing with the State Ethics
Commission and serving upon Respondent an Order to Show Cause and a Petition for Civil
Penalties. A Stipulation of Findings and a Consent Agreement were subsequently submitted by
the parties to the Commission for consideration. The Stipulated Findings are set forth as the
Findings in this Order. The Consent Agreement has been approved.
1. FINDINGS:
Respondent is an adult individual who resides or maintains a mailing address at [address
redacted].
2. At all times relevant to these proceedings, Respondent has been a Constable/Deputy
Constable in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and as such, Respondent has at all times
relevant to these proceedings been a "public official" as defined in Section 1102 of the
Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S, § 1102.
3. Respondent as a public official is subject to the Statement of Financial Interests filing
provisions of the Ethics Act.
4. Respondent failed to timely provide full financial disclosure as required by the Ethics Act.
Respondent failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2024,
which was due by May 1, 2025. Respondent has therefore violated Sections 1104 and 1105
of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1104 and 1105.
DeMott, 26-020-P
Page 2
5. By Notice Letter dated May 16, 2025, Respondent was served with Notice in accordance
with Section 1107(5) of the Ethics Act of the specific allegation against Respondent
concerning the above transgression. Said Notice Letter provided Respondent an
opportunity to avoid the institution of these civil penalty proceedings by filing an accurate
and complete Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2024 within twenty (20)
days of the date of the Notice letter. Respondent has failed and/or otherwise refused to file
a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2024 so as to comply with the specific
requirements of the Ethics Act,
6. By Notice Letter dated rune 12, 2025, Respondent was served with Notice in accordance
with Section 1107(5) of the Ethics Act of the specific allegation against Respondent
concerning the above transgression. Said Notice Letter provided Respondent an
opportunity to avoid the institution of civil penalty proceedings by filing an accurate and
complete Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2024 so as to comply with the
specific requirements of the Ethics Act.
7. Respondent failed to file his Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2024 with
the State Ethics Commission by the deadlines imposed in the Notice Letters.
II. DISCUSSION:
As a Constable/Deputy Constable in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Robert DeMott
("DeMott") was at all times relevant to these proceedings a "public official" subject to the
provisions of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa,C.S. § 1101 et
M.
Pursuant to Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act, DeMott was specifically required to file a
Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2024 with this Commission on or before May 1,
2025. Section I I04(a) provides:
§ 1.1.04. Statement of financial interests required to be filed
(a) Public official or public employee. --Each public official of the
Commonwealth shall file a statement of financial interests for the preceding
calendar year with the commission no later than May 1 of each year that he holds
such a position and of the year after he leaves such a position. Each public
employee and public official of the Commonwealth shall file a statement of
financial interests for the preceding calendar year with the department, agency,
body or bureau in which he is employed or to which he is appointed or elected no
later than May 1 of each year that he holds such a position and of the year after he
leaves such a position. Any other public employee or public official shalt file a
statement of financial interests with the governing authority of the political
subdivision by which he is employed or within which he is appointed or elected no
later than May 1 of each year that he holds such a position and of the year after he
leaves such a position. Persons who are full-time or part-time solicitors for political
DeMott, 26-020-P
Page 3
subdivisions are required to file under this section.
65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
The complete financial disclosure which DeMott as a Constable/Deputy Constable in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was required to provide in the Statement of Financial Interests
form is statutorily mandated in detail at Section 1105 of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1105.
Section 1109(f) of the Ethics Act provides as follows:
§ 1109. Penalties
(f) Civil penalty.-- In addition to any other civil remedy or criminal penalty
provided for in this chapter, the commission may, after notice has been served in
accordance with section 1107(5) (relating to powers and duties of commission)
and upon a majority vote of its members, levy a civil penalty upon any person
subject to this chapter who fails to file a statement of financial interests in a timely
manner or who files a deficient statement of financial interests, at a rate of not more
than $25 for each day such statement remains delinquent or deficient. The
maximum penalty payable under this paragraph is $250.
65 Pa.C.S. § 1109(f).
An application of Section 1109(f) to this case establishes that this Commission has the
discretion to levy a maximum civil penalty against DeMott for the delinquent Statement of
Financial Interests for calendar year 2024,
The prerequisite service of a Notice letter in accordance with Section 1107(5) was satisfied.
DeMott did not remedy the failure to comply with the Ethics Act although given more than the
usual grace period following Notice in which to do so. The Investigative Division then instituted
formal proceedings against DeMott by filing with the State Ethics Commission and serving upon
DeMott an Order to Show Cause and a Petition for Civil Penalties, ordering DeMott to show cause
why a civil penalty should not be levied against him. The parties then filed a Stipulation of
Findings and a Consent Agreement.
The parties propose that this case be resolved by: (1) this Commission finding that DeMott
failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2024 calendar year in compliance
with Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act; (2) DeMott making payment of a civil penalty in the
amount of $100.00 in settlement of this matter by certified check or money order payable to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to this Commission within thirty days of the
issuance of the final adjudication in this matter; and (3) DeMott filing a complete and accurate
Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2024 in compliance with Section 1104(a) of the
Ethics Act within thirty days of the issuance of the final adjudication in this matter.
We believe that the Consent Agreement sets forth a proper disposition for this case, based
upon our review of the totality of the facts and circumstances. Accordingly, we approve the
DeMott, 26-020-P
Page 4
Consent Agreement that has been submitted by the parties.
We hereby find that DeMott, as a Constable/Deputy Constable in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2024 calendar year in
compliance with Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, we hereby 'levy a civil penalty against DeMott
in the total amount of $100.00 for DeMott's delinquent Statement of Financial Interests for
calendar year 2024.
To the extent DeMott has not already done so, DeMott shall be ordered to make payment
of the aforesaid civil penalty in the total amount of $100.00 by no later than the thirtieth (30"') day
after the mailing date of this adjudication and Order, by utilizing the Commission's electronic
payment system or by forwarding to this Commission a certified check or money order in the
amount of $100.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for deposit in the State
Treasury.
III. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW:
1. Robert DeMott ("DeMott"), as a Constable/Deputy Constable in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, was at all times relevant to these proceedings a "public official" subject to
the provisions of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S.
§1101etsemc.
2. DeMott, as a Constable/Deputy Constable in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, failed
to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2024 calendar year in compliance
with Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act.
Notice of the delinquency of DeMott's Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year
2024 was previously served upon him in accordance with Section 1107(5) of the Ethics
Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1107(5).
4. Based upon the totality of the circumstances in this case, a civil penalty in the total amount
of $100.00 is warranted.
In Re: Robert DeMott, File Docket: 26-020-P
Respondent Date Decided: 7/23/26
Date Mailed: 7/24/26
ORDER NO. 855-S
1. Robert DeMott ("DeMott"), as a Constable/Deputy Constable in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2024 calendar
year in compliance with Section 1 I04(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act,
65 Pa. C.S § I I04(a).
2
4.
Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, we hereby levy a civil penalty against DeMott
in the total amount of $100.00 for DeMott's delinquent Statement of Financial Interests for
calendar year 2024.
To the extent DeMott has not already done so, DeMott is ordered to make payment of the
aforesaid civil penalty in the total amount of $100.00 by no Iaer than the thirtieth (301")
day after the mailing date of this Order, by utilizing this Commission's electronic payment
system or by forwarding to this Commission a certified check or money order in the amount
of $100.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State
Treasury.
Failure to comply with Paragraph 3 of this Order will result in the initiation of an
appropriate enforcement action.
BY TH COMMISSION,
i
ichae A. chwartz, Chair