Felasco ordered to give up documents

Lawrence County commissioners are still trying to withhold the treasurer's paycheck.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA STAFF
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County's embattled treasurer is spending more and more time in court.
A visiting judge ordered Gary Felasco to give up bank statements, utility records and other documents to the county district attorney in the next 20 days after a Monday morning hearing.
Felasco also has a court date Oct. 26 before visiting senior Judge Michael Wharry to determine if he will have to answer 16 questions he refused to answer in a recent deposition. The treasurer invoked his right against self-incrimination during the disposition.
Both actions are the result of a civil lawsuit filed by Lawrence County District Attorney Matthew Mangino, which contends that Felasco has abandoned his office. The lawsuit's intent is to remove Felasco from office.
Mangino contends that Felasco is living in Ashtabula with his wife and children.
Felasco and his attorney, Ed Leymarie, could not be reached to comment.
Criminal charges
The civil lawsuit is in addition to the criminal charges Felasco faces. The Pennsylvania State Police have charged him with theft and embezzlement, contending he took money from his office for personal use.
Police said Felasco would take cash paid to the county treasurer's office and then substitute it with checks sent by mail to balance out the daily books. A forensic audit details more than $40,000 missing from his office from October 2003 to December 2003.
Lawrence County commissioners say a more extensive audit of Felasco's last four years in office is now under way.
Commissioner Steve Craig said Monday that the county solicitor has sent a letter requesting bank documents from the treasurer's office. Craig said if the treasurer does not comply, the records are available at the bank, but for a fee.
Paycheck
Craig said he is still unhappy that his signature was affixed to Felasco's paycheck last week.
Commissioners voted more than a month ago to put Felasco's paycheck in an escrow account until the criminal charges are resolved. Craig and Commissioner Dan Vogler also sent letters to the county controller saying their signatures should not appear on any checks issued to Felasco, which would make them invalid.
County Controller Mary Ann Reiter informed commissioners last week that her solicitor did not believe it was legal to withhold Felasco's paycheck. She issued the check Friday.
Craig said all three commissioners have instructed the county solicitor to send Reiter another letter saying their signatures should not appear on any checks issued to Felasco.
cioffi@vindy.com