Trial will not occur in Lawrence County

By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County Treasurer Gary Felasco won't be going to trial here.
A judge has decided that there has been too much pretrial publicity about the embattled treasurer, who is accused of taking more than $40,000 from his office.
Judge Michael Wherry, visiting senior common pleas court judge, agreed to a change of venue for Felasco's trial. The matter will be sent to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, where justices will decide where to locate the trial which is expected to take place early next year.
Criminal charges
Judge Wherry also agreed to separate one of the state Ethics Act violations from the four remaining criminal charges.
Felasco was arrested Sept. 7 and charged with theft, embezzlement, misapplication of entrusted property and two counts of violating the state Ethics Act.
Anthony Krastek, senior deputy attorney general handling the prosecution, said the severed charge dealt with allegations that Felasco had not paid his taxes.
Felasco's attorney, James Ross of Beaver, Pa., has argued that the apparent nonpayment of taxes was not related to the other four charges, which concern the missing money.
Krastek said theoretically it could mean two trials, but that likely will depend on the outcome of the first four charges.
Ross also has filed several other court documents, including a writ of habeas corpus asking that all the charges be dismissed.
Krastek said he must respond to those filings in writing by Nov. 30.
Ross could not be reached to comment Friday on the change of venue and other proceedings.
cioffi@vindy.com