Veon and Rosepink Sentenced This Morning

Follow Tracey Mauriello's Twitter Tweets on the right column for up to date news on the sentencing of Anna Marie Peretta-Rosepink and former State Representative Michael Veon this morning. You can also find the Bonusgate Twitter here.

Anna Marie Peretta-Rosepink received 3-6 months in Dauphin County jail, followed by intermediate punishment(3 months house arrest) & probation. Also $8,000 in fines and $25,000 restitution. She has to prepare for a second court case she is involved in so Judge Lewis set bail at $25,000.00 pending appeal. She smiled after receiving her sentence. Brett Cott's previous sentencing had to weigh on her mind.

10:14 A.M. Veon Sentencing starting Veon Attorney Dan Raynak says he is going to take a little time.

You can read Mauriello's update story on Post Gazette here.

11:27 A.M. Judge Lewis says Veon will not get probation for "blatant criminal activity" and he state Veon abused power despite helping alot of people.

11:28 A.M. Veon receives 9-24 months on first count with 13 more counts to go

11:32 A.M. Halfway through counts and up to 28 months to 8 years

11:35 A.M. $37,000 fine, $100,000.00 restitution prison time 6 to 14 years.

Veon is denied bail and led out of the courtroom in handcuffs.

11:54 A.M. Veon led back into courtroom without cuffs for a vice hearing to see if Attorney Raynak from Arizona can represent him in another proceeding.

Mauriello's story on the Veon sentencing Post Gazette.

State Recommends 12 Years In Prison For Mike Veon

Over at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Tracey Mauriello reports that the AG Tom Corbett's office is recommending at least 12 years in prison for Michael Veon. Evidently they feel that 65 is a ripe age for Veon to regain his freedom for his transgressions with taxpayers' money.

In a sentencing memorandum filed Tuesday in Dauphin County Common Pleas Court, they asked for a 12- to 17-year sentence for Mr. Veon, 53, who they said "presided over a vast criminal enterprise specifically designed to utilize as many public resources as possible in pursuit of his political and campaign ambitions."

In a separate filing, they asked for 19 to 24 months imprisonment for Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink, who ran Mr. Veon's district office in Beaver Falls.

Sentencing is scheduled for Friday before Dauphin County Judge Richard A. Lewis.

Lewis Wetzel Donated To Paul Kanjorski

Judge Lewis Wetzel
On March 16, 2010 Attorney Lewis Wetzel as unaminmously confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate to assume a judgeship on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

In this article written by Andrew Seder of the Times Leader Senator Lisa Baker was quoted regarding Attorney Lewis's qualifications and integrity.

Baker told the committee that “Gov. Rendell has nominated two individuals with extensive experience, quality credentials and the proper justice-first approach required during these unusual and unsettling times. Each is committed to restoring the reputation of the Luzerne County Court, rather than enhancing their personal reputation. Neither is positioning for a next life in electoral politics.”

“Given the depth and breadth of the appalling wrongdoing revealed, community trust in the basic integrity and fairness of judges will be hard to re-establish. Their willingness to serve is commendable; their enthusiasm for the undertaking is encouraging. We have had an extremely painful reminder that the fair administration of justice is not a sure thing. Securing justice takes effort on the part of many, but it clearly depends most of all on ethical judges.”

The ink wasn't dry on that article before Wetzel made a quiet political donation. According to a Federal Election Commission filing by Pennsylvanians For Kanjorski Attorney Wetzel made a donation to the campaign of Paul Kanjorski in the amount of $500.00 on March 18, 2010 found on page 19.

Lewis was sworn in as judge the very next day. In this Times-Tribune article the author writes Afterward, Judge Wetzel said he had been disheartened by questions involving corruption charges - such as, "Are you next?" - and said it will take time for the court to restore its image.
"I seriously think it will take my two years and then maybe then some to make people feel all is well with the court," he said. Doesn't it seem odd that right before he is sworn in Wetzel feels the need to make a donation to Paul Kanjorski just under the wire?

Although Judge Wetzel was not a judge at the time of the donation, its timing seems to be suspect. If Attorney Wetzel was truly engaged to restore the court's image does he honestly believe that his action shows a step in the right direction?

Canon 7. Judges should refrain from political activity inappropriate to their judicial office.

(1) A judge or a candidate for election to judicial office should not:
(c) solicit funds for or pay an assessment or make a contribution to a political organization or candidate

Strictly speaking Attorney Wetzel was not a candidate in the sense he had to run for office but he certainly was a nominee for a position on the court. The reasoning for the first prohibition would probably be difficult to divorce from the second situation.

Your honor, with all due respect, it will take much longer when "Politics As Usual" prevails on the bench. One has to wonder whether Judge Burke would support this action on his watch.

One more question, your honor. If a Republican comes before your bench against a Democrat are you willing to recuse yourself due to an apparent bias toward one party?

Bonusgate Deliberations Affecting Jurors

SInce the media in Northeastern Pennsylvania are practically ignoring Michael Veon et al's Bonusgate trial SOP wants to highlight the latest from Tracie Mauriello of the Post Gazette. In this story she talks about the toll deliberations are taking in this case on jurors to this point.

We're turning on each other," one told Dauphin County Judge Richard A. Lewis from the jury box as she and others dabbed their eyes.

"I can imagine it is hard for a jury to announce a unanimous decision," Judge Lewis said. "Juries are able to do that at most times, and we ask that you keep trying."

Jurors are considering 139 criminal charges against four defendants, including former state Rep. Mike Veon, who represented Beaver County and at one time was the second-ranking Democrat in the state House.

Judge Lewis told jurors that deliberation is not about taking a firm stand but about "talking to your neighbors. Sometimes it takes an effort on everyone's part to do that."

The exchange came as jurors ended their 29th hours of deliberations over four days, following six weeks of testimony.

"We're aware of the strain on you, all 12 of you. I'm sure it's a terrible strain," Judge Lewis said.

The jurors did indicate they came to a conclusion against one defendent in the case. However, their deliberations continue.

BREAKING NEWS: LEWIS TO RULE CASE BY CASE ON DEM SUBPOENAS

VS.

Tracie Mauriello filed this report in the Post Gazette as the Commonwealth rested its case in the Michael Veon Bonusgate trial.

Prosecutors rest in Bonusgate case
Friday, March 05, 2010
By Tracie Mauriello, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
HARRISBURG -- After five weeks and 29 witnesses, prosecutors at 4:15 p.m. rested their case against former state Rep. Mike Veon and three former aides in the government corruption trial known as Bonusgate.

Defense attorneys are expected to begin calling witnesses Monday in a trial that is lasting much longer than predicted.

SOP has learned that the Judge did not issue a ruling on the House Democratic Representative subpoenas issued by Veon's attorneys including Todd Eachus and James Wansacz. It appears he will deal with them case-by-case as they come up according to Tracie.

Attorneys for House Democrats and the potential witnesses said the request could run afoul of the special constitutional protections given to the internal discussions of the Legislature. The attorney general's office told Lewis the witnesses may also seek to exercise their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

In this article that appeared in the Times Leader back on July 7,2009 Eachus and his spokesperson, Brett Marcy were quoted as saying this:

Eachus wanted to make it clear that the subpoenas were not served by the attorney general or any law enforcement agency, but by the defense. He said he and current HDC staff have “cooperated fully” with the attorney general’s investigation.

HDC spokesman Brett Marcy said Eachus was not among the legislators who testified before the grand jury, nor was he interviewed by any law enforcement officials regarding the Bonusgate case.

Again we ask the question- How did Todd Eachus make the claim of fully co-operating when his spokesman says he never talked to anyone?

More importantly why didn't Todd Eachus show up at the grand jury when he was sent a Christmas time invitation to appear by AG Tom Corbett? They wanted to know whether Eachus had any information concerning state money and resources that were misused for political purposes. One would believe than an elected official who had any knowledge of wrongdoing would want to do the right thing for the taxpayers.

Instead Mr. Eachus et al are resisting any attempts including failing to appear before the Grand Jury to discuss the matter. Never mind that fact that Grand Jury witnesses "fingered" Eachus in the Bonusgate matter. One would believe he and others would welcome the opportunity to refute those allegations if there weren't true.

Next week will prove to be an interesting week in this saga. Stay tuned.