GREENSBURG, Pa. -- State Sen. Robert Regola surrendered to authorities Wednesday to face accusations of improperly storing a gun that wound up in the hands of a teenage neighbor and then lying about it at a coroner's inquest last month.

---

Regola Statement

Watch the Report

---

Regola, 44, of Hempfield, Westmoreland County, was arraigned on charges of perjury, false swearing, reckless endangerment and illegal possession of a weapon by a minor.

The neighbor, Louis Farrell, 14, was found shot to death with Regola's 9 mm handgun on July 22. Farrell had a key to Regola's house so he could watch the family's pets while Regola was in Harrisburg, state police said.

After the inquest, Coroner Ken Bacha ruled that Farrell's death was a suicide. The coroner recommended no charges against Regola, but District Attorney John Peck did not agree with the recommendation.

"It appears the senator came into that hearing with the intention of clouding the testimony, if not derailing the investigation, about how that weapon would come into Louis' possession," Peck said. "In doing so, he contradicted prior statements he gave to state police."

Regola did not speak during or after his arraignment. He is free on $25,000 unsecured bond.

"The charges are without merit," Regola said in a written statement. "Contrary to the ill-informed speculation that surfaced, I have been cooperative and candid during this investigation. Many Westmoreland County residents who keep a gun for family protection store their guns in their bedrooms, never anticipating that someone might regrettably choose to search for and take that firearm."

The case is confusing, Peck said, because there's strong physical evidence that the gun was in Farrell's hand and pressed against his head when he was killed, but also strong evidence that the boy was happy, well-adjusted and not suicidal.

"You can't know Louie Farrell from his friends and parents and not wonder how could this be a suicide," said Peck.

Regola's attorney, Duke George, said that Regola maintains his innocence and will not resign from the state Senate.

"It's a piece of paper with an allegation. Nothing more, nothing less," George said. "Why would he even think of resigning?"

Under the state constitution, Regola would automatically surrender his Senate seat if he is convicted and sentenced for perjury.

"We could not cross examine," George said about the coroner's inquest. "They were not bound by the rules of evidence. We couldn't call any witnesses to testify on behalf of the commonwealth. That will all come out in the criminal process."

Regola's preliminary hearing is set for April 5.

---

Related Links:
More County News

Get RSS | E-Mail Alerts

---