Families Accuse Somerset County DA Molly Metzgar of Corruption “SHE WILL BE A CROOKED JUDGE”
Newly elected Judge and former District Attorney Molly Metzgar is facing explosive allegations of corruption and misconduct following outrage over a controversial plea deal in a double fatal DUI case.
The mother of one of the victims, Terri Burby, has gone public, accusing Metzgar and Assistant District Attorney Thomas Leiden of misleading victims’ families and secretly negotiating a plea deal without their consent — allowing the driver accused of killing two young people to avoid prison time.
On August 11, 2023, Burby’s 19-year-old son Talan Marva and his girlfriend Rachel were killed instantly when Braxton Judy, allegedly drunk and speeding at 91 mph in a 35 mph zone, lost control of his vehicle and crashed into them. Witnesses say Judy’s passenger was seen gathering beer cans from the scene instead of helping the victims.
Despite failing a sobriety test and admitting to drinking, Judy was not arrested that night. He wasn’t taken into custody until April 1, 2024 — nearly eight months later — and was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond.
Burby says her family endured months of delays, canceled hearings, and a lack of transparency from prosecutors. Then, in early July 2025, she received a shocking phone call from a “victim’s advocate” informing her of an emergency plea hearing requested by a judge — one she says she never agreed to.
“I was blindsided,” Burby said. “They told me it was just to discuss options. But when I showed up at the courthouse, I found out Braxton had already pleaded guilty. No one told us. We never approved it.”
According to Burby, Metzgar’s office falsely told the court that Talan’s father had previously agreed to the plea to “speed up insurance claims” — a statement she calls a complete lie.
Under the deal, Judy pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless driving — with all other charges dropped.
The victims’ families say Metzgar and her team misrepresented their wishes in open court and manipulated the process to push through the plea without their knowledge.
“We were lied to, manipulated, and silenced,” Burby said. “This isn’t justice. It’s a betrayal.”
The case has sparked growing outrage in Somerset County, with local residents and private investigators raising concerns about alleged favoritism, conflicts of interest, and potential corruption within the DA’s Office.
Adding to the controversy, on November 4, 2025, Metzgar won election to become the first female judge in the Somerset County Court of Common Pleas. While some celebrated her victory as historic, others expressed deep concern over her ethics and impartiality.
One family member of the victims told XMN News, “Now I wonder how much money she and her husband are going to get to fix cases from the bench.”