Luzerne County Government

April 24, 2010

Sheriff snubs controller’s plea

Times Leader staff

The Luzerne County Sheriff’s Office failed to respond to Controller Walter Griffith’s latest subpoena for information about guns on Friday, informing him that he will have to obtain a court order to obtain the requested information, said Controller’s Office Solicitor Thomas Mosca.

Griffith’s subpoena sought information that acting Sheriff Charles Guarnieri had previously said he would be willing to supply upon request, Mosca said. Griffith was seeking a gun log and clearance to inspect all weapons held by the office, he said.

Mosca said he will discuss the possibility of filing a court action with Griffith.

Guarnieri had previously appeared to testify in response to Griffith’s original subpoena on March 5, though he failed to answer many questions about guns that had been held or sold by the office, including ones purchased by employees, county officials said.

County Solicitor Vito DeLuca had started investigating the guns after county officials learned that the sheriff’s office sold an antique submachine gun and three other guns to Advanced Arms in Pittston last year for $22,500 without commissioner approval or an independent appraisal. The sale of guns to 20 employees was also discovered.

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