LAWRENCE COUNTY Probe targets phone misuse

The treasurer said he will not resign.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Lawrence County treasurer is being investigated in the possible misuse of county cell phones for private adult-oriented parties, and another county official is calling for his resignation.
"We've already asked for the phone records. We are going to look into it," said county District Attorney Matthew Mangino. "The thing that concerns us is the use of the phones and whether or not it's criminal."
County Treasurer Gary Felasco turned over two cellular telephones to the county chief clerk/administrator on March 30. Chief Clerk Charleen Micco said Felasco told her he was turning them in because of questions of his personal use of them by the press.
Adult party
A published report Thursday in the New Castle News asserted that Felasco used the phones to give directions to an adult-oriented party at the Days Inn in Girard in late March. Details about the invitation-only parties are given at www.geocities.com/jeanfun4all and call for singles and couples to attend a private party on the Pennsylvania/Ohio line. A site link also features sexually explicit photographs.
When questioned Thursday by The Vindicator, Felasco refused to explain why he turned in the telephones.
Felasco said his office had two cellular telephones because staff members go to outlying areas to sell licenses. His office handles dog, fishing and other licenses.
A check of the most recent cellular telephone records turned in by the treasurer showed numerous telephone calls made from both phones in the evenings, on weekends and on holidays when the office is closed.
The calls included long-distance calls to Tidioute, Pa., on Christmas Day and calls to Hilliard, Fla., on New Year's Day, both days when county offices were closed.
Lawrence County Commissioner Ed Fosnaught said he believes Felasco should resign from his post as treasurer and from his position on the Lawrence County Housing Authority -- a post to which he was appointed by the county commissioners.
Felasco told The Vindicator on Thursday that he does not intend to resign either position.
Felasco first came under fire in late February when The Vindicator reported he had not paid property taxes on his Cunningham Avenue home since 2000. His property escaped the yearly tax sale because it was marked "court stayed" in county computers. No court cases involving the property could be found.
He was removed
County commissioners removed Felasco as the appointed tax claim bureau director but say there is little they can do about his elected position and his appointment to the county housing authority.
Fosnaught said he is disappointed in Felasco's behavior and believes county officials should be held to a higher standard.
"There are those people who say it's his private business. As a private citizen you can do things like that [adult parties], but as an elected official I think it's totally unacceptable conduct," Fosnaught said.
Commissioner Steve Craig said he wants to let the ongoing investigations involving Felasco conclude before deciding the treasurer's fitness for office.
"I would really like to see what formal charges come out of this in terms of the state police investigation, the results of our forensic audit and the results of the state auditor general's investigation," Craig said. "Also, I think we need to have a meeting with Gary and hear from him what his position on all of this is."
Balancing budget
County commissioners hired forensic auditors Packer Thomas of Warren to look at county tax claim records.
The Pennsylvania Auditor General's office has also been investigating Felasco's use of county liquid fuels money to help balance the county budget at the end of last year. Liquid fuels money -- derived from county gasoline taxes -- can be used only for road-related projects. The money was transferred to the county general fund to pay bills until the 2004 tax anticipation note was issued.
Pennsylvania State Police are also looking into the tax claim bureau.
cioffi@vindy.com