VENANGO COUNTY Jury chosen in theft trial of Lawrence Co. treasurer

The trial is expected to last five or six days.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
FRANKLIN, Pa. -- Eight women and four men were chosen for the jury in the trial of Lawrence County Treasurer Gary Felasco.
Jury selection took most the day Monday in Venango County, where the trial was moved because of local press coverage.
Felasco, 39, is accused of taking more than $40,000 from his office for personal use. He was arrested last Sept. 7 and charged with theft, embezzlement, misapplication of entrusted property of government or financial institutions and a violation of the Pennsylvania public official Ethics Act.
Two alternate jurors, a man and a woman, will also sit in on the trial.
The jurors and alternates were told to report back to the courtroom at 8:30 a.m. next Monday for opening statements. Court personnel said the trial would last about five or six days and stretch to about 5 or 6 p.m. each day.
Slow process
Monday's jury selection was a slow process with a general questioning of the more than 100 potential jurors called for about eight trials slated to occur in Venango County this month.
More than 30 people were excused by visiting senior Judge Michael Wherry of Mercer County after answering questions about their ties to law enforcement, if any were aware of the case or had lived in Lawrence County in the last 10 years or had any health problems precluding them from serving on a jury.
An additional 30 people were taken into a second jury room for selection in the afternoon.
During selection, Wherry read a list of more than 100 potential witnesses including Lawrence County Controller Mary Ann Reiter, county data processing director Phenton Shuffert, New Castle Schools Assistant Superintendent Nick DeRosa, New Castle City Council President Rob Ratkovich and Felasco's two deputy treasurers, Kathy Baker and Gloria Conti. None of the potential jurors said they recognized any of the witnesses' names.
Felasco is free on $25,000 bond while awaiting trial.
cioffi@vindy.com