Constable has friends in high places

Three elected officials -- all Democrats -- have written letters asking a judge to grant a private investigator's license to a former Montgomery County constable who had his own brush with the law last year.

The elected officials -- state Sen. Connie Williams, D-17th Dist., state Rep. Daylin Leach, D-149th Dist., and Lower Merion Township Commissioner Jane Dellheim -- are among seven citizens who filed affidavits with the court, certifying in their opinions, that Steven David Sokoloff is "honest, of good character," and "competent," according to reporter Carl Hessler Jr., who works for The Mercury.

Williams, who is retiring at the end of the year, Leach, the Democratic nominee for Williams's state Senate seat, and Dellheim each filed affidavits on behalf of Sokoloff's June 5 application for the private investigator license, according to court records reviewed by Hessler.

Under state law, those who apply for private detectives' licenses must submit notarized affidavits of reputable citizens to support the application, Hessler says.

In the affidavits, Williams, Leach and Dellheim certify they've known Sokoloff for at least five years and that they are not related to or connected to Sokoloff by blood or marriage, Hessler says.

Sokoloff, 57, of Ardmore, filed a petition for a private investigator license on behalf of Private Detectives Inc., according to Hessler. Sokoloff is listed in court documents as the president, secretary and treasurer of the company, which was incorporated on April 16, 2008, Hessler says.

Sokoloff acted as a deputy constable in Lower Merion from Jan. 5, 2004, until Oct. 18, 2007, when he resigned in exchange for prosecutors agreeing not to pursue potential criminal charges of official oppression against him for his alleged improper arrest of a West Norriton businessman in connection with an unpaid parking ticket, according to court papers.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman filed a petition in court on Monday asking a judge to deny Sokoloff's application for a private investigator license, according to Hessler.

Ferman argued in court papers that Sokoloff's actions while a deputy constable, his alleged false arrest of the businessman, constituted "malfeasance, misfeasance and acts of oppression," Hessler reported.

Ferman alleged Sokoloff "lacks the good character, integrity, honesty and competence" required for a private investigator license, according to the court records examined by Hessler.