LaGrotta sentenced to house arrest

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A former Pennsylvania lawmaker was sentenced to six months of house arrest after admitting he placed his sister and niece in state jobs that reaped them thousands of dollars for little or no work.

Frank LaGrotta, 49, of Ellwood City, also was sentenced to probation and community service today, and he was ordered to pay a fine and restitution after pleading guilty to two felony conflict-of-interest charges.

LaGrotta served 10 terms in the House, representing portions of Lawrence, Beaver and Butler counties, before losing the 2006 Democratic primary to Jaret Gibbons, who now holds the seat.

LaGrotta will be on electronic monitoring during his period of house arrest, and Judge Richard A. Lewis of Dauphin County Common Pleas Court said he would be allowed out only for work, church, medical appointments and similar matters as worked out with his probation officer.

He has two weeks to set up the electronic monitoring and to fully pay the restitution. LaGrotta told the judge he is currently unemployed.

The judge also placed LaGrotta on 30 months’ probation, ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine and $27,000 in restitution, and to perform 500 hours of community service.

His sister Ann Bartolomeo and Bartolomeo’s daughter, Alissa Lemmon, pleaded no contest to lying to a grand jury and received probation and fines.

For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.