Wilkes-Barre Mayor

November 2

Complaint targets Leighton

A W-B City Council hopeful claims ‘criminal conspiracy’ in mayor’s, ex-official’s security systems.

By Jerry Lynott jlynott@timesleader.com
Business Writer
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WILKES-BARRE – After criticizing the Mayor Tom Leighton and his former city administrator J.J. Murphy for spending more than $15,000 of public money to equip their homes with security systems, City Council candidate Linda Urban filed private criminal complaints against them alleging theft and misappropriation of taxpayer funds.

Urban also said she contacted the state Office of Attorney General to look into whether the city’s tax-exempt status was illegally used in the purchases from Torbik Safe & Lock Inc.

“There seems to be a criminal conspiracy issue between J.J. and the mayor,” said Urban on Thursday.

She provided The Times Leader with copies of the complaints filed with District Judge Andrew Barilla on Oct. 14, the day after she raised the issue at a City Council meeting.

She accused Leighton of misappropriation of taxpayer funds by an elected city official, unlawful taking, illegal disposition of funds and criminal conspiracy to commit a crime of larceny. Against Murphy she filed charges of larceny, criminal conspiracy illegal disposition of public funds and theft by unlawful taking.

The complaints have been forwarded to Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll for review and a decision on whether to approve the charges. The district attorney said her office has not yet seen the complaints.

At the recommendation of police Chief Gerard Dessoye, Leighton and Murphy had separate systems installed in their homes in 2005 after they said they received threats, verbal attacks and intimidating letters when the mayor decided to close firehouses. The city paid for monthly monitoring and reinstalled the system at Murphy’s home at a cost of $6,500 when he moved in late 2007.

Leighton said he has not seen the complaint against him. When told what it contained, he said, “It sounds like a suspended local attorney helped prepare it.” He would not name the attorney, adding, “I don’t believe there’s any legal merit to it.”

Murphy, who is no longer a city employee, also said he has not seen the complaint. He acknowledged that the security system is still in place and operating.

“Anybody can file any action they want, frivolous or not,” he said. “She obviously hasn’t looked at the facts. I look forward to having this thrown out in court.”

In filing the complaints, Urban cited the city charter that she said prohibits gifts to oneself.

Urban, a Republican, is challenging incumbent Democrat and former city police Chief Bill Barrett for the seat to represent District D.

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