Jailed Virginia Lawmaker Pleads Not Guilty To 4 New Felony Charges

FILE - In a Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015 file photo, Del. Joe Morrissey, I-Henrico, looks over the calendar during the House session at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. Nearly three weeks after the 2015 legislative session ... FILE - In a Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015 file photo, Del. Joe Morrissey, I-Henrico, looks over the calendar during the House session at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. Nearly three weeks after the 2015 legislative session started, leaders in the Virginia House of Delegates are still trying to figure out what to do with Morrissey, who is spending nights in jail after a sex scandal involving a teenager. Morrissey resigned his House of Delegates seat after prosecutors accused him of having sex with a 17-year-old girl. While serving a six-month jail term for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, he ran as an independent in a special election and reclaimed his seat. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File) MORE LESS
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Virginia lawmaker jailed after a sex scandal involving a teenager has pleaded not guilty to four new felony charges.

Del. Joseph Morrissey’s jury trial on perjury and felony charges is scheduled to start April 28. At his arraignment Monday, Morrissey asked the judge for a trial within three weeks. However, a special prosecutor from Arlington who just took over the case two weeks ago said she could not be ready that soon.

The 57-year-old Morrissey pleaded guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor after prosecutors accused him of having sex with a 17-year-old employee of his law office. He’s spending nights in jail and attending legislative sessions during the day on work release.

The new charges pertain to a document presented in court in the first case.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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