On Monday, February 24, 2025, LebTown reported that Magisterial District Judge Aurelis Figueroa has been temporarily disqualified from handling all criminal cases due to ongoing legal issues involving her daughter, Zaelys DeArce. This decision follows a series of court orders related to DeArce’s prosecution in connection with charges stemming from an alleged assault.
Figueroa, one of two district judges responsible for managing the early stages of criminal cases in Lebanon City, is facing this disqualification as a result of a conflict of interest raised by her daughter’s legal situation. DeArce, a candidate for the Lebanon City Council in 2021, was charged by city police last July for her involvement in an incident that reportedly occurred in a local grocery store.
The Lebanon County President Judge, John Tylwalk, issued an order on December 6, 2024, to reassign all criminal cases overseen by Figueroa to other magisterial district judges within the county. Additionally, the order called for the appointment of an out-of-county judge to manage the entirety of DeArce’s prosecution.
In response to this situation, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court designated Lancaster County Senior Judge Harold Knisely to preside over the case against DeArce. Knisely has already taken steps to remove the Lebanon County District Attorney’s office from the case, appointing the Pennsylvania Attorney General to oversee the prosecution instead.
DeArce faces charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct related to fighting, and criminal conspiracy, which are linked to an incident that allegedly took place on July 15, 2024. According to an affidavit submitted by Patrolman Andrew Thomas, DeArce, who is 22 years old, is accused of assaulting a woman alongside a juvenile accomplice inside the Giant grocery store located at 835 Bowman Street.
The request for the removal of the county’s District Attorney, Pier Hess Graf, from the case stemmed from claims made by DeArce’s legal team. They argued that Graf had previously made negative remarks about Figueroa, which they contended created a conflict of interest concerning the prosecution.
In 2023, Graf had publicly criticized Figueroa for her decision to reduce the bail for Alex Torres Santos, who was facing felony charges. After his release on the reduced bail, Santos allegedly violated house arrest and was implicated in a triple murder.
DeArce’s attorney further asserted that the current District Attorney and her deputy had expressed disapproval toward Figueroa due to her management of cases that were prosecuted by Graf’s office. The attorney noted that DeArce had previously worked for the District Attorney’s office and that both Graf and Deputy District Attorney Amy Muller were aware of DeArce’s familial ties to Figueroa.
In a statement regarding his decision to remove the District Attorney’s office from the case, Judge Knisely acknowledged that there was no direct conflict involving the DA or her assistant and Figueroa’s daughter. However, he expressed concern about the potential perception of a conflict of interest arising from the negative remarks made about the judge and the existence of complaints filed against Figueroa with the Judicial Conduct Board.
Currently, online court records indicate that DeArce’s criminal case is still in its preliminary stages, with a hearing yet to be scheduled.
Source: LebTown
