By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
RANDOLPH — Preston Marshall, Randolph attorney and Navy Veteran, announced plans Monday to run for Cattaraugus County district attorney.
Marshall, who plans to run as a Republican, has been with the Public Defender’s Office for the past five years. He previously worked for the District Attorney’s office as an assistant DA for nearly 15 years.
UPDATE: RIEMAN NOT TO SEEK FOURTH TERM AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY
District Attorney Lori P. Rieman told the Olean Star that she would not be running for reelection in November 2025. She indicated that she is preparing for a felony trial and would provide more comment when the trial is completed.
Rieman was the county’s first woman district attorney when she was elected in 2009, defeating her former boss, incumbent DA Ed Sharkey. A Republican, Rieman served as an assistant DA to Sharkey for eight years. She is a resident of Ellicottville and graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Law. As an assistant and as the District Attorney, Reiman has served Cattaraugus County for 24 years.
Marshall served in the U.S. Navy on nuclear submarines prior to his legal career, achieving the rank of chief petty officer before retiring at the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
As an assistant district attorney for almost 15 years, Marshall handled felony and misdemeanor cases including jury trials, hearings and leading the grand jury. He has tried criminal trials as both a prosecutor and a public defender.
Marshall said he is committed to “the mission of community safety through crime prevention solutions and the aggressive prosecution of repeat and violent offenders.”
He added: “Our community deserves a leader who embodies integrity, experience and a commitment to Justice. I have the tools to lead the DA’s office in developing a strong relationship with both law enforcement and crime victims.”
Marshall is a member of both the Cattaraugus County and New York State Bar Associations, the U.S. Supreme Court Bar Association, Randolph American Legion Post 181 and the United State Submarine Veterans (Buffalo Base).
In an interview with the Olean Star, Marshall said, “I’ve had a lot of great experience with the District Attorney’s Office then as an assistant public defender. This (public defender) is a different angle, a different view.”
Marshall said, “I think I’m the best person to be district attorney. I can do some good things there. You have to pursue justice.”
Marshall said the problems with discovery reform “has worked its way through the system. In Cattaraugus County, there was always an open file policy.” Body cams have added to discovery work, but “the system is in place to do it now.” The body cams benefit the prosecution and the defense.
On bail reform concerns by police and prosecutors, Marshall said, “We need to give discretion back to judges.” Local judges, he said, “understood what bail was for.”
After he retired from the Navy, Marshall attended law school at Ohio Northern University, where he met his wife, Bridget, who is also an attorney.
Marshall said they compromised on where to raise their family — her native Randolph or his hometown in Southern West Virginia. Randolph won. They have four children, the oldest who will graduate from Randolph Central School in June.
