Baltimore County state’s attorney primary a choice about what kind of crime should be prosecuted

For 15 years, Baltimore County has been satisfied with their self-proclaimed tough-on-crime prosecutor, State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger. But a former public defender believes the county is ready to embrace the progressive approach toward crime and punishment seen elsewhere in the country and has launched the first primary challenge against the Democratic incumbent since he was first elected in 2006. Private attorney and longtime Democratic politico Robbie Leonard, 40, has mounted an aggressive campaign against Shellenberger for his handling of low-level crimes, sex offenses and allegations of police misconduct.