LAWRENCE COUNTY Inmate charged with trying to get victim to change story

The inmate planned to file a large lawsuit and give the money to his victim, prosecutors say.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A man was arrested on charges that he solicited a witness and the witness's family to recant testimony that resulted in his conviction, said Lawrence County District Attorney Matthew Mangino.
Todd Alan Vocature, 41, was convicted by a jury Oct. 23, 1998, of statutory sexual assault, indecent assault and corruption of a minor. He was sentenced to six to 13 years in state prison. He is now incarcerated in the state correctional institution in Waynesburg, Pa.
Pennsylvania State Police said Vocature, through four letters and a telephone conversation, asked the victim and her family to recant her testimony. In exchange, Vocature would seek $1.87 million in damages under the state's Wrongful Conviction Act and, if he won, would give the money to the victim, police said.
Mangino said Vocature asked the victim to write a letter recanting her testimony and provide copies to the court, the district attorney and his attorney. Vocature also suggested that his attorney would prepare a contract that he and the victim would sign, Mangino said.
Vocature has been charged with attempting to commit a witness taking a bribe, solicitation to commit a witness taking a bribe, attempt to intimidate a witness, solicitation to intimidate a witness, bribing a witness and intimidating a witness, which are all felonies.
Mangino said Vocature faces a maximum of 28 years in prison and a $60,000 fine if convicted.
He will be arraigned April 4 by District Justice Melissa Amodie.