WARREN Family to fight Swiger's release

The murder victim's brother plans to petition the parole board for a full hearing.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
WARREN -- Michael Pratt wants the Ohio Parole Board to reconsider its decision to release Michael Swiger from prison in 2005.
Swiger, 35, has been in the Ohio prison system since his 1990 conviction of kidnapping with a gun specification and involuntary manslaughter in the 1988 murder of Pratt's brother, Roger Pratt of Munhall, Pa., also known as Butch.
Swiger was sentenced to 21 to 53 years in prison but has repeatedly sought early release, a move opposed by the Pratt family.
Swiger was last denied release by the parole board in September 2002 but was given a projected release date of Jan. 2, 2008, barring any disciplinary or other problems.
However, the parole board said in August of this year that it had received some new information from "local law enforcement regarding community attitude of this offender" and granted him a new parole hearing Sept. 11.
The board didn't reveal the content of that new information, and the case went before the full board for a central office board review.
The results were announced Tuesday with a board spokeswoman saying Swiger was given a new projected release date of Jan. 2, 2005.
"Obviously, we're disappointed with their decision," Pratt said today, adding that he and his mother, Rose, will try to get the board to reverse its position.
"I think we're still able to petition for a full board hearing," he said, explaining that he would have to be able to show the parole board that there is information on the case that it failed to consider in granting the early release.
Part of a plot
The Pratts want Swiger to serve at least the minimum 21 years in his sentence, which means he would stay in prison until 2011.
"Today would have been Butch's birthday," Pratt said.
His brother was killed in a remote area in Summit County near Akron in June 1988 in what authorities said was a plot to keep him from telling police what he knew about some burglaries and a furniture store arson in Greenville, Pa.
Michael Swiger isn't the only one serving time in an Ohio prison in the case. His older brother, Edward, 37, is serving 40 years to life for murder with a gun specification and kidnapping and can't apply for parole until 2033.
Linda Karlen, 50, is serving seven to 15 years for conspiracy to commit kidnapping and will be released in January 2005 when her 15 years are up.
The Pratts successfully fought her efforts for parole several times.
Authorities said Edward Swiger was involved in the burglaries and that both Swigers and Karlen were involved in the furniture store arson.