State Sen. Bob Regola has gotten a little help from his friends to defend himself and his teenage son against criminal charges stemming from the death of a neighbor boy who was fatally shot with the senator's handgun.
A legal defense fund, set up last spring by Hempfield resident Brad Mellor, has raised more than $14,000 to pay attorneys representing the first-term Republican from Hempfield and his son.
Sen. Regola, 45, of Hempfield is charged with felony perjury and firearms counts and misdemeanor offenses of false swearing and reckless endangerment.
He allegedly gave authorities conflicting statements about how he stored the 9 mm Taurus pistol used in the shooting of Louis Farrell, 14, in July 2006. Farrell's body was found in his backyard, next door to the Regola home. Coroner Kenneth Bacha ruled that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted.
Regola is accused of lying during an inquest last March, denying that his son, Robert "Bobby" Regola IV, now 18, kept the weapon in his room. The senator's son was later adjudicated delinquent of a misdemeanor gun offense in juvenile court.
If convicted of a felony offense, Regola would be disqualified from serving in the Senate.
Regola said Tuesday that he appreciated the contributions but declined to reveal the extent of his legal bills.
"I have no role in soliciting donations to this fund," Regola said. "The money goes in, and Brad pays the bills. Hopefully, a lot more money will come and pay for these bills."
Mellor, a sportsman who supports gun ownership rights and works as an attorney in Pittsburgh, created the fund last June, about a month after criminal charges were filed against Regola.
The defense fund has secured 27 donations from 26 sources totaling $14,225.
"I wanted to provide a vehicle for people to support the senator," Mellor said. "It's been word of mouth, through phone calls. There is no target amount, because with legal fees you don't know what they are going to be."
The largest donor is the Harrisburg lobbying firm of Malady & Wooten, which in October gave $2,000. The list of donors includes a group of lobbyists as well as several Republican state lawmakers, including Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County; Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware County; and Sen. Don White, R-Indiana County.
"From what I can see, the district attorney down there is on a mission and certainly Bob's being put to the test. He's singling a guy out," Scarnati said. "At the end of the day we'll have to review what happened and what motivated this district attorney. I'm troubled by the district attorney's tactics and actions. I support Bob."
District Attorney John Peck responded: "The facts of the case speak for themselves. Prosecution is based solely on the facts the case has produced and nothing else."
Four contributions, totaling $900, come from people who list a Westmoreland County address.
Mellor, who gave $300 to the fund, said most of the money has been paid out.
"There's not enough there to cover all the legal expenses. It's almost been entirely distributed," Mellor said.
Attorneys Duke George of New Kensington and Charles Porter Jr. of Pittsburgh represent Regola in his criminal case. George represents Regola's son.
Defense attorneys have asked a Westmoreland County judge to dismiss the criminal charges for a lack of evidence. No ruling has been issued.
Regola's criminal trial is tentatively scheduled for May.
The senator is unopposed in the April 22 primary election. Regola last year raised more than $221,000 for his campaign.
Donations to the Regola Legal Fund can be mailed to P.O. Box 1701, Greensburg PA 15601.
Regola Legal Fund donors:
Malady & Wooten LLP, Harrisburg -- $2,000
F. Joseph & Joann Loeper, Thornton -- $1,000
Roger A. Madigan, Towanda -- $1,000
Edwin B. & Katherine J. Erickson III, Newton Square -- $1,000
Michael S. Long, Lebanon -- $1,000
Don White, Indiana -- $1,000
Lewis, Eckert, Robb & Co., Plymouth Meeting -- $1,000
Michael W. & Cindy J. Brubaker, Lititz -- $500
Robert M. Tomlinson, Bensalem -- $500
Stephen C. Macnett, Harrisburg -- $500
Jacob D. & Kelli L. Corman III, Bellefonte -- $500
Joseph B. Scarnati III, Harrisburg -- $500
Dominic F. Pileggi, Chester -- $500
Robert D. & Grace A. Wurzbach, Avalon, N.J. -- $500
Louis J. Biacchi, Harrisburg -- $500
Rocco V. & Debra M. Pugliese, Camp Hill -- $500
K. Bradley & Kimberly M. Mellor, Hempfield -- $300
Prairie Hill Farms/R.C. Whisner, New Stanton -- $300
Michael Matievich, McKeesport -- $250
Bob & Lesa Cranmer, Pittsburgh -- $250
Thomas J. & Ruth C. O'Conner, Trafford -- $200
David A. Atkinson, Harrisburg -- $100
Thomas W. or Nancylee Starke, Camp Hill -- $100
Donald R. & Mary Lou Hacker, Greensburg -- $100
Samuel B. Saxton, Allentown -- $75
Nathan P. & Kathryn H. Silcox, Mechanicsburg -- $50
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