Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck on Monday said he still wants jurors to decide three perjury counts against state Sen. Robert Regola.
Peck filed court documents yesterday in which he asked a county judge to reconsider or further explain his April 10 ruling that essentially denied a defense request to have most of the charges against Regola dismissed.
Westmoreland County Judge John Blahovec ordered prosecutors to consolidate three perjury counts into one offense. Regola is charged with lying last year during a coroner's inquest that investigated the death of the senator's 14-year-old neighbor.
Louis Farrell's body was found July 22, 2006, in the woods behind his home with a bullet wound in the head. Regola's 9 mm Taurus handgun was found next to the body, and authorities said it was the weapon used in the shooting. The coroner's office determined that Farrell's death was a suicide.
"I don't believe he said those two counts should be thrown out. That's why we're asking about it," Peck said. "I think that he can be found guilty of all three counts but only sentenced on one count of perjury."
Regola, 45, of Hempfield also faces a felony gun offense and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment.
If convicted of the gun offense or perjury, Regola would be barred from serving in the state Senate. He represents District 39.
Defense attorney Charles Porter could not be reached for comment.
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