PITTSBURGH -- A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter was called as a witness when testimony continued Monday in the preliminary hearing for Allegheny County Councilman Charles McCullough, who's accused of stealing $40,000 from an elderly widow and making political contributions with the money.
County prosecutors say McCullough, acting as a private lawyer, was given power of attorney over Shirley Jordan's multimillion-dollar fortune -- but they're arguing that he didn't have the power to do the things he allegedly did with the 92-year-old Upper St. Clair woman's assets.
That list, according to prosecutors, includes:
Making $40,000 in political contributions -- $10,000 each to local Republican political candidates. A big contribution to Catholic Charities, which was headed by McCullough's wife at the time. Paying exorbitant rates to his sister, Kathleen, to sit as a caretaker with Jordan. Paying himself fees. Watch Bob Mayo's report from the county courthouse tonight on WTAE Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Dennis Roddy -- who broke the story about the alleged campaign contributions -- took the witness stand in Judge Donald Machen's courtroom and described Jordan's "shock and anger" at learning how much money had been contributed from her funds to local political candidates.
"She gasped. She was gobsmacked," Roddy testified.
Days after that interview, Charles McCullough claimed to police that Roddy had sneaked into Jordan's nursing home and harassed and badgered her, WTAE Channel 4's Bob Mayo reported.
Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman disagreed, saying Roddy "gave truthful testimony about his involvement in the case, which resulted from an investigation that he did on behalf of his employer, the Post-Gazette."
Upper St. Clair police cleared Roddy of the accusations, and Charles McCullough was subsequently charged with making false statements, but Roddy said that a person's reputation is everything in the journalism business and the councilman's accusations were damaging.
"Chuck McCullough managed to make the police feel sorry for a newspaper reporter. I don't know how badly you have to screw up to accomplish that," Roddy said outside the courtroom.
In court papers, police quote Jordan -- who was diagnosed with dementia in 2005 -- as calling Charles McCullough "a dirty crook."
Roddy testified that Jordan was feisty and talkative, not memory-impaired, when she welcomed him at her nursing home after he signed in to visit.
When Roddy told Jordan about one of the $10,000 political donations, Jordan said, "My God, I can't..." and said she would not have made such a donation, according to the testimony.
Charles McCullough's hearing began on Friday. It may continue until Thursday, as the prosecution has more than 20 witnesses to call.
The McCulloughs were arrested in February, when charges were filed after an eight-month grand jury investigation. They are free on bond.
Charles and Kathleen McCullough are both charged with theft. Charles McCullough is also charged with misapplication of entrusted property, false reports to law enforcement, tampering with records and criminal conspiracy.
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