Jury selection begins Monday in State Sen. Bob Regola trial.

[femmocrat]

He is facing two felony charges of perjury and allowing a minor (his son) to possess a firearm, as well as two misdemeanor charges, in the death of his 14-year old neighbor in 2006.

Read more: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_576118.html

This guy is actually up for re-election in November. (He's a conservative, BTW.)

[livetohike]

1. I can't believe he hasn't stepped down

Also, why perjure himself if there was nothing to hide? :shrug: This will be interesting to follow.

[yasmina27]

2. I hope they convict his ass!

I couldn't believe, last fall, I got a call from his campaign, asking if I supported him. I said in no uncertain terms that I completely disagreed with all of his positions on various issues, and that even if I liked him, his legal problems would prevent me from ever voting for him. The lady just wouldn't give up! I finally had to hang up.

[PA Democrat]

3. My husband sat in on part of the trial today.

He said it was very contentious. A friend of Louie Farrell (the boy found dead) was on the stand and the defense attorney for Regola had the boy in tears. Regola had his "mob" of GOP operatives with him in the courtroom.

Regola is a lying piece of shit. He ran a filthy campaign to win his state senate seat, using big bucks provided by the RNC to do push polling a an extremely negative campaign. I will be thrilled if he is convicted and forced to resign his seat.

[livetohike]

6. I hope the jury comes back with a verdict today

and this POS Regola goes to jail for a nice, long stay.

[RamboLiberal]

4. Video from Pittsburgh Stations - Wednesday, July 09, 2008

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/video/16836335/index.html

http://www.wpxi.com/video/16835429/index.html

http://kdka.com/local/Senator.Bob.Regola.2.766711.html

A 16-year-old boy told a Westmoreland County jury this afternoon that he saw a handgun stored in the bedroom of the teenaged son of state Sen. Robert Regola about two years before it was used in the suicide death of another teen.

Michael Stunja of Greensburg testified that Robert "Bobby" Regola IV, who was then 16, pulled out a black and silver handgun from a plastic case under his bed and showed him the weapon. Bobby Regola said he kept the gun in his room for protection, Stunja testified.

Senator Regola, 45, is on trial on charges of perjury, providing a gun to a minor and reckless endangerment. The senator's 9mm Taurus was used in the suicide of his neighbor, 14-year-old Louis Farrell, whose body was discovered in the woods behind his home on July 22, 2006.

Farrell also was in the bedroom when Bobby Regola showed off the weapon, Stunja testified today.

Stunja cried several times during his hourlong testimony as defense attorney Charles Porter intensely questioned him about previous statements he made while under oath in four other court hearings as well as a statement he gave to police after Farrell's death.

Earlier today, two state troopers testified Sen. Robert Regola told them hours after Farrell was found dead that the weapon had been stored for a time in his son's bedroom.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_576767.html

[RamboLiberal]

5. Trial testimony: Regola gave son, 14, a handgun for Christmas

State Sen. Robert Regola III gave his son, Bobby, a 9 mm handgun and a box of shells for Christmas in 2003 when the boy was 14, the senator's brother-in-law testified today.

"I was very surprised. It's not an appropriate gift for a child of that age," David Depetris of Latrobe said this morning during the second day of testimony in Mr. Regola's trial on various charges.

Mr. Depetris also testified that he taught Bobby how to take apart and clean the gun.

Mr. Depetris' statement about the gun, which he said was Bobby's favorite Christmas present that year, seemed to bolster the prosecution's efforts to prove that the senator provided a firearm to a minor, one of the crimes with which he is charged.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08192/896144-100.stm

Story also says Regola's sister had a PFA against her former hubby.