LAWRENCE COUNTY Treasurer employees to testify to grand jury

The treasurer says he was not told his employees had been called to testify.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Current and former employees of Lawrence County Treasurer Gary Felasco have been called to testify before a state grand jury today.
Lawrence County Commissioner Steve Craig said that Pennsylvania State Police informed him that they would be serving subpoenas last week. Craig said he was not told which employees would be called to testify. He said he was notified as an employer of some of those to be called.
Atty. Phillip Clark Jr. confirmed that Cathy Baker, who is his client, has been called to testify today. Baker is deputy treasurer and was in charge of the county Tax Claim Bureau when Felasco was in charge.
Felasco was removed as Tax Claim Bureau director in March after commissioners learned that he and his wife, Jeanine, had not paid property taxes on their Cunningham Avenue home since 2000.
The property escaped the yearly tax sale for delinquents because an improper court stay was put on it in the county computer system.
District Attorney Matthew Mangino asked state police to investigate the matter. Mangino then turned the matter over to the Pennsylvania attorney general's office.
Clark said he could not discuss why Baker was called to testify.
Felasco said Monday he was unaware that any of his employees had been called to testify before a grand jury.
"I've certainly not gotten a subpoena," Felasco said. "I don't know who my employees have spoken to or not. I have not questioned them about it. They have talked to auditors and people who have requested to talk to them. We have cooperated fully with everyone."
cioffi@vindy.com