GREENSBURG, Pa. -- State Sen. Bob Regola said a Westmoreland County jury's quick acquittal of perjury and related charges stemming from the death of a young neighbor shows the prosecution against him was politically motivated.

"I just felt all along that we knew we had done nothing wrong, but it was unfortunate it had to come to this," the Hempfield Township Republican told WTAE Channel 4's Janelle Hall on Thursday.
Raw Video: Watch The 1-On-1 Regola Interview (approximately 10 minutes)
Watch Janelle's Report: Regola Talks About Being Found Not Guilty

Regola said the charges came down to his word against that of two state police troopers who said he changed his story about whether or not his 9 mm handgun was ever stored in his teenage son's room.

"I really just want people to know that I'm glad I had been acquitted, but on the other hand, this has been a terrible tragedy both for my family and the Farrell family," he told Hall.

Police said 14-year-old Louis Farrell -- a friend of Regola's then-teenage son, Bobby -- was found shot in the woods behind Regola's and Farrell's homes in July 2006, with the senator's gun near his body. The county coroner ruled it a suicide.

Farrell had access to the Regola family's house so he could watch their dogs while the senator and his wife were in Harrisburg and Bobby Regola was at an amusement park all day.

Regola was accused of storing the gun improperly and lying when he testified that he never allowed the weapon to be kept in his son's room.

"My story never changed," Regola told Hall. "I told them where the firearm was, where it was in my room. The gun was stored properly, it was secured, and I don't know how it got into the hands of Lou, but once again, it's an absolute tragedy."

Regola said police should have to keep all of their notes from an investigation, not just rely on final reports as their proof of interviews.

"You can tape people. You can have them write their statement. I really feel there needs to be better procedures in place," he said.

Regola, who's up for re-election in November, could soon face a wrongful death lawsuit by Farrell's family. But he said he has nothing to hide and is confident he did nothing wrong.

"It's an absolute tragedy. We loved him," Regola said.

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