Mercer County District Attorney Miles Karson, right, who faces numerous counts of obstruction and other charges, talks to the media Friday with his attorney, Al Lindsay, during a news conference in Butler.

Butler attorney Al Lindsay gave a news conference on Friday afternoon in the Holly Pointe building on Main Street regarding the accusations against Mercer County District Attorney Miles Karson.

Lindsay explained that Butler is a central location for Karson to give his only statement on the 17 misdemeanor charges before his Dec. 18 preliminary hearing.

Karson said he learned on Thursday that the state Attorney General filed the list of misdemeanors against him, including nine charges of obstructing the administration of law or other government function and four official oppression charges.

Lindsay said Karson will not resign his post as D.A. because he is innocent of the “idiotic allegations.”

Karson gave a statement at the news conference, saying he would not comment on the charges because he had not reviewed them. But he asserted that he has “committed no offenses” and is anxious to fight the allegations in court.

Karson said he would have no further comment on the matter because he has learned in his 42-year law career that such matters should not be tried in the media.

“I am a firm believer in and have great trust in the legal process,” Karson said.

Lindsay said it will be decided after the preliminary hearing and the discovery process whether he will file a pretrial motion to have the charges thrown out.

“Mr. Karson believes he will be vindicated,” Lindsay said.