The son of state Sen. Robert Regola III was ordered to serve one year on probation for illegally possessing a firearm.
Robert "Bobby" Regola IV, now 18, was adjudicated delinquent in October of the misdemeanor offense. Westmoreland County Juvenile Court Judge Christopher Feliciani sentenced him to probation Wednesday, sources said. The hour-long hearing took place behind closed doors.
The charge against Regola, a senior at Hempfield Area High School with no prior offenses, was filed in the aftermath of the July 22, 2006, death of the Regola family's 14-year-old neighbor, Louis Farrell.
Farrell's body was found behind his home with a gunshot wound to his head. Police said Sen. Regola's 9 mm Taurus handgun was used in the shooting. Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha ruled the death a suicide, although the Farrell family disputes that finding.
Bobby Regola was prosecuted in juvenile court for possessing a gun. His father, a first-term Republican from Hempfield, faces a felony gun charge as well as perjury and related offenses. Police allege the gun was kept in his son's bedroom before being moved to the senator's bedroom.
The Regola family, including the senator and his wife, declined to comment about the outcome of the case as they left the courthouse yesterday.
Citing a gag order issued by Feliciani, defense attorney Duke George and District Attorney John Peck also refused to discuss the case.
Larger text
Smaller text
Print this article
E-mail this article
