Disgraced Virginia Legislator To Marry Teenager Involved In Sex Scandal

Former Democratic Virginia House of Delegates member Joseph D. Morrissey, who had been involved in a sex scandal involving a teenage employee of his laws office, has now announced he will marry the same woman. Myrna Pride, who began working in Morrissey’s law office at age 17 two years ago, is now marrying her boss, who is age 57, Reuters is reporting.

While announcing the marriage, Morrissey denied allegations of doing anything illegal or inappropriate, and Pride claimed she didn’t engage in any sexual relations with Morrissey until she was of legal age.

“Last December, Morrissey, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for his relationship with Pride. The sentence was later reduced to a 90 days in work release,” Reuters reported, “Morrissey stunned political pundits by winning re-election to his House of Delegates seat in a special election in January, while he was serving his sentence. Under the work-release program, he had been to able to leave jail during the day and he made campaign calls from his law office.”

He gave up the seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, the lower house of the state’s legislature, but said he will announce his candidacy for state senate as an independent. Morrissey could still face charges of perjury regarding alleged forged documents and lying under oath during the investigation of the sex scandal involving Pride.

Described as newly election state legislator, Morrissey is facing indictment again, the Associated Press reported. The charges are related to his alleged conduct during the investigation of the sex scandal.

“Special prosecutor William Neely announced the forgery and perjury indictment of Del. Joseph D. Morrissey on Wednesday. The lawmaker now stands accused of forging a document he vouched for in court, and persuading the girl’s mother to swear to its authenticity as well. That woman, Deidre Warren, faces perjury and forgery charges now as well,” the Associated Press reported.

The re-election of Morrissey was reported by theInquisitr earlier this year, which occurred while he was doing time in jail for the charges involved with the sex scandal.

“Earlier this month, Morrissey — who spends his evenings in jail — won re-election in a special election as an independent after previously resigning his seat in the state House of Delegates following a conviction for contributing to the delinquency of a minor,” the Inquisitr reported. “Morrissey, 57, allegedly had an improper relationship with a 17-year old receptionist in his Richmond-area law office, and entered into a misdemeanor plea bargain under the Alford doctrine that allows for work release and also avoided a trial on rape charges.”

[Photo of Joseph Morrissey Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post from Getty Images.]