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In Re: Eric Selfridge,
Respondent
STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
FINANCE BUILDING
613 NORTH STREET ROOM: 309
FJARRISWJI`�G, I"A 171200400
File Docket:
Order No,
Date Decided:
Date Mailed:
22-012-P'
732-S
9/14/22
9/19/22
FACSIMILE: 7,17-787-0806
WEBSITE: V.yLw. ethics, pa. (Loy
Before: Mark R. Corrigan, Acting Chair
Shelley Y, Simms, Acting Vice Chair
Roger Nick
Melanie DePalma
Michael A. Schwartz
Rhonda Hill Wilson
Paul E. Parsells
This is a final adjudication of the State Ethics Commission as to the alleged delinquency
and/or deficiency of Statement(s) of Financial Interests required to be �riled 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 a Petition for Civil Penalties. An Order to Show Cause
was issued to Respondent. 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.
I. FINDINGS:
Respondent Eric Selfridge ("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 Corrections Officer 4
with the Department of Corrections, and as such, Respondent has at all times relevant to
these proceedings been a "public official/public employee" as defined in Section 1102 of
the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1102.
3. Respondent, as a public official/public employee, 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 2020,
which Statement of Financial Interests was, to be filed by May 1, 2021 . Respondent has
Selfi•ida, 22-012-P
Page 2
therefore violated Sections 1104 and 1105 of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1104, 1105.
5. By Notice Letter dated November 5, 2021, Respondent was served with Notice in
accordance with Section 1107(5) of the Ethics Act of the specific allegations 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 2020 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 2020 so as to comply
with the specific requirements of the Ethics Act.
6. By Notice Letter dated November 29, 2021, Respondent was served with Notice in
accordance with Section 1107(5) of the Ethics Act of the specific allegations 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 2020 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 2020 with
the State Ethics Commission by the deadlines imposed in the Notice Letters.
II. DISCUSSION:
As a Corrections Officer 4 with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections ("Department
of Corrections"), Eric Selfridge ("Selfridge") was at all times relevant to these proceedings a
"public employee" subject to the provisions of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act
("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et seq.
Pursuant to Section 1 I04(a) of the Ethics Act, Selfridge was specifically required to file a
Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 with the State Ethics Commission and the
Department of Corrections on or before May 1, 2021. Section 1104(a) provides:
§ 1104. 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 shall 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
Selfridge, 22-012-P
Page 3
subdivisions are required to file under this section.
65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
The complete financial disclosure which Selfridge as a Corrections Officer 4 with the
Department of Corrections 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 Selfridge for the delinquent Statement of
Financial Interests for calendar year 2020.
The prerequisite service of a Notice letter in accordance with Section 1107(5) was satisfied.
Selfridge 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 Selfridge by filing
with this Commission and serving upon him a Petition for Civil Penalties. The Commission Chair
issued an Order to Show Cause, ordering Selfridge to show cause why a civil penalty should not
be levied against him. The parties then filed a Stipulation of Findings and Consent Agreement.
The parties propose that this case be resolved by: (1) this Commission finding that
Selfridge failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2020 calendar year in
compliance with Section 1 I04(a) of the Ethics Act; (2) Selfridge making payment of a civil penalty
in the amount of $200.00 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) Selfridge filing a complete and accurate
Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 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
Selfridge, 22-012-P
Page 4
Consent Agreement that has been submitted by the parties.
We hereby find that Selfridge, as a Corrections Officer 4 with the Department of
Corrections, failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2020 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 one civil penalty against
Selfridge in the total amount of $200.00 for Selfridge's delinquent Statement of Financial Interests
for calendar year 2020.
To the extent he has not already done so, Selfridge shall be ordered to make payment of
the aforesaid civil penalty in the total amount of $200.00 by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day
after the mailing date of this adjudication and Order, by forwarding to this Commission a certified
check or money order in the amount of $200.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.
To the extent he has not already done so, Selfridge shall be ordered to file a complete and
accurate Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 with the State Ethics Commission
and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections by no later than the thirtieth (30t11) day after the
mailing date of this adjudication and Order.
III. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW:
1. As a Corrections Officer 4 with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Eric Selfridge
("Selfridge") was at all times relevant to these proceedings a "public employee" subject to
the provisions of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S.
§ 1101 et sue.
2. Selfridge, as a Corrections Officer 4 with the Department of Corrections, failed to timely
file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2020 calendar year in compliance with
Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
Notice of the delinquency of Selfridge's Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year
2020 was previously sewed 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 $200,00 is warranted.
In Re: Eric Selfridge, File Docket: 22-012-P
Respondent Date Decided: 9/14/22
Date Mailed: 9/19/22
ORDER NO. 732-S
Eric Selfridge ("Selfridge"), as a Corrections Officer 4 with the Pennsylvania Department
of Corrections, failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2020 calendar
year in compliance with Section I I04(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act
("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
2. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, we hereby levy one civil penalty against
Selfridge in the total amount of $200.00 for Selfridge's delinquent Statement of Financial
Interests for calendar year 2020.
3. To the extent he has not already done so, Selfridge is ordered to make payment of the
aforesaid civil penalty in the total amount of $200.00 by no later than the thirtieth (30)
day after the mailing date of this Order, by forwarding to this Commission a certified check
or money order in the amount of $200.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.
4. To the extent he has not already done so, Selfridge is ordered to file a complete and accurate
Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 with the State Ethics Commission
and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections by no later than the thirtieth (30"') day
after the mailing date of this Order.
5. Failure to comply with Paragraph 3 or 4 of this Order will result in the initiation of an
appropriate enforcement action.
BY THE COMMLSSION,
R. Corfigan, Acting Chair