HARRISBURG — A state prosecutor described the former second-ranking state House Democrat on Friday as the mastermind of a scheme to rip off taxpayers to win elections and “expand his own kingship.”
Jurors in the six-week-old political corruption trial of former Beaver County state Rep. Mike Veon and three of his ex-aides deliberated for less than two hours before asking to be sent home for the weekend.
Outside the jury’s presence, prosecutors and defense attorneys haggled bitterly over what portion of the boxes of e-mails and other evidence would be sent into the jury room.
Veon is on trial with former senior aides Steve Keefer, Anna-marie Perretta-Rosepink and Brett Cott. They face charges of theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest in what prosecutors say was the diversion of taxpayer resources for campaigns and other improper purposes.
Expert: Senator likely caused fatal crash
STROUDSBURG – A Pennsylvania lawmaker killed in a 2008 crash in the Poconos likely drifted into the path of an oncoming pickup truck to avoid a minivan that had pulled onto the shoulder ahead of him, a defense expert said Friday.
The collision that killed state Sen. James Rhoades, 66, a seven-term Republican from Schuylkill County, and seriously injured his wife, Mary Edith, could not have happened as prosecutors claim it did, said Kevin Theriault, who was hired by the defense for Thomas Senavitis.
Senavitis, 46, is on trial for vehicular homicide, drunken driving and related offenses.
Prosecutors allege his pickup truck crossed the center line of state Route 209 and slammed into Rhoades’ Cadillac sedan.
That scenario, said Theriault, an accident-reconstruction expert, is “literally impossible.”
Judge to rule later on adult hearing for boy
NEW CASTLE – A boy who was 11 when he allegedly murdered his father’s pregnant fiancee with a shotgun has a “very limited” likelihood of being rehabilitated through the juvenile court system, said a psychiatrist hired by state prosecutors.
A judge must weigh that in deciding whether Jordan Brown, now 12, will be tried as an adult or have his case moved to juvenile court.
Brown faces up to life in prison if convicted of the Feb. 20, 2009, slaying of 26-year-old Kenzie Houk and her nearly full-term son as she lay in bed in their New Galilee farmhouse.
If the case is moved to juvenile court, the longest Brown could remain incarcerated or on probation would be about nine years – until he’s 21.
To move the case under Pennsylvania law, Brown’s attorneys must prove he would be more “amenable” to rehabilitation in the juvenile system.
Dr. John O’Brien, a psychiatrist hired by state prosecutors, said Brown is “avoidant” and “evasive” when asked about the killings and denies all responsibility for them.
Brown’s father, Christopher, told “Good Morning America” earlier this week that his son is innocent and is “too young” to appreciate the magnitude of the case. He refused comment as he left the courtroom.
Lawrence County Judge Dominick Motto must rule within 20 days or Brown will remain in adult court by default.
Suspect arrested in attack on priest
CONNELLSVILLE – A business manager for three western Pennsylvania parishes has been charged with attacking a parish priest.
Forty-six-year-old Kevin Labuda, of Connellsville, was charged Friday with aggravated assault, criminal trespass and related crimes in the March 3 attack on 48-year-old Father Joseph Bonafed.
Police said Bonafed was attacked in the rectory at Immaculate Conception Church in Connellsville, where he is pastor. He received stitches for a head wound.
Jerry Zufelt, a spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg, said the diocese is grateful for the arrest but saddened because Labuda is an employee.
Zufelt said the diocese will consider Labuda’s employment.
Labuda is being held in jail and it’s unclear if he has an attorney.
State News
In brief: Corruption case goes to jury
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A's GM Beane proud of the 'Moneyball' legacy
Billy Beane's influence on using baseball statistics and economics in building a team has stretched from the diamond to the silver screen.
He may even help Brad Pitt win an Oscar before he leads the Oakland Athletics to a World Series championship.
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DA: Cardinal's death in Pa. probed amid odd timing
A suburban Philadelphia prosecutor said Friday she suggested that the coroner's office investigate the recent death of a Roman Catholic cardinal because of what she called "odd" timing, saying she wanted to put to rest any speculation since he died a day after a judge had found him competent to testify at the child-endangerment trial of his longtime aide.
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Feese gets 4-12 years for corruption
Brett Feese, a former Republican leader in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was sentenced today to four to 12 years in state prison and fined $25,000 for his role in a state corruption scandal.
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Pa. woman charged with having sex with student
A Pennsylvania woman has been charged with sex abuse of a student at the Maryland school where she taught.
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Santorum defends ‘good’ earmarks
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is defending his use of spending earmarks in Congress, saying some were necessary for defense or health programs.
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Corbett OKs Specter library grant that he bashed
Gov. Tom Corbett is signing off on a state grant for the Arlen Specter Library after singling it out during his campaign as an example of wasteful spending.
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Man gets 10 to 20 years in slaying over mattress
A man who was on the run for more than eight years pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a central Pennsylvania man in an argument over a mattress.
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Somerset County teacher accused of using insulting names
School board members and administrators say they’re still investigating whether a teacher called her eighth- and ninth-grade algebra students names like “retard,” “idiot” and “moron.”
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Seward tax preparer set to plead in federal court
A Westmoreland County tax preparer is scheduled to plead guilty or no contest to charges that he filed fraudulent income tax returns for his customers and asked some of them to lie to Internal Revenue Service investigators.
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Police probing financial irregularities at Indiana County parish
State police say they’re investigating financial “irregularities” at a Catholic parish with five worship sites in Indiana County, after the local diocese reported the problems to police.
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