State senator faces perjury, gun charges
Published: April 10, 2008 at 9:02 PM
GREENSBURG, Pa., April 10 (UPI) -- Gun and perjury charges against Pennsylvania state Sen. Robert Regola can move to trial, a judge has ruled.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Thursday that, in a 27-page opinion, Westmoreland County Judge John Blahovec said there was enough evidence to move the case against the Republican state senator to trial.
Regola is accused of lying during a coroner's investigation and allegedly allowing his teenage son to have access to a handgun. The senator's gun was discovered next to the body of Regola's 14-year-old neighbor, Louis Farrell, who was found July 22, 2006, in the woods behind his home, dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
"If the defendant kept his 9mm, unlocked and with a loaded clip, in his 16-year-old son's bedroom where it was easily accessible not only to his son but also to any of his son's friends, one could determine that the defendant acted in a reckless or negligent manner resulting in a finding that Louis Farrell's death was a homicide: i.e. involuntary manslaughter," the judge wrote in his ruling.
Regola is scheduled to appear in court May 6, said Assistant Court Administrator Linda Lessick.
If convicted, Regola would be required to end his re-election bid since convicted felons are barred from holding public office.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Thursday that, in a 27-page opinion, Westmoreland County Judge John Blahovec said there was enough evidence to move the case against the Republican state senator to trial.
Regola is accused of lying during a coroner's investigation and allegedly allowing his teenage son to have access to a handgun. The senator's gun was discovered next to the body of Regola's 14-year-old neighbor, Louis Farrell, who was found July 22, 2006, in the woods behind his home, dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
"If the defendant kept his 9mm, unlocked and with a loaded clip, in his 16-year-old son's bedroom where it was easily accessible not only to his son but also to any of his son's friends, one could determine that the defendant acted in a reckless or negligent manner resulting in a finding that Louis Farrell's death was a homicide: i.e. involuntary manslaughter," the judge wrote in his ruling.
Regola is scheduled to appear in court May 6, said Assistant Court Administrator Linda Lessick.
If convicted, Regola would be required to end his re-election bid since convicted felons are barred from holding public office.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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