Editorials

OUR OPINION

March 2, 2008

Justice should be swift in DeNaples perjury case

THROUGH HIS attorneys, Louis DeNaples appears to be doing whatever he can to avoid a Dauphin County Court appearance to face perjury charges. The dream-team of lawyers is delaying and nitpicking to avoid the heart of the case: Did the powerful businessman from Dunmore lie to state regulators about his alleged ties to mob figures when seeking a coveted license for his Mount Airy Casino Resort?

It’s been a month after Northeastern Pennsylvania’s most prominent self-made man – a folk hero to many – has been charged, and a preliminary hearing has not even been scheduled.

The defense team has made pleas to the state Supreme Court for intervention, it has accused prosecutors of unspecified “political and personal agendas” and it has alleged leaks exist in the grand jury proceedings. One unorthodox ploy is to get the charges dismissed before the preliminary hearing is even held.

It’s been said that justice delayed is justice denied. That applies to both the defendant and the public, especially in this case. At stake here is far more than the reputation of one man. The integrity of the licensing system and government’s ability to regulate the fledgling casino industry are on the line.

The case has shown the licensing system is flawed: The Gaming Control Board’s investigative bureau is not a designated law enforcement agency; thus, the Pennsylvania State Police was not legally permitted to turn over damaging information it had collected on DeNaples.

Despite that, state Rep. Doug Reichley, R-Emmaus, maintained last week the Gaming Control Board still had valid reasons to deny DeNaples a license: his 1978 felony plea to conspiracy to defraud the federal government; the board’s concerns about DeNaples truthfulness during the licensing process; and DeNaples’ refusal to turn over a copy of his FBI file. These conflicts clearly illustrate there are flaws in the licensing system. Those entrusted can’t gamble with this – the system needs to be repaired.

Hanging in the balance are the 900 casino jobs in the Poconos, the ability of the state to regulate an industry that can reap it great benefits and the reputation of those charged with policing the powerful people to whom it grants licenses.

The first step is to move the case against DeNaples forward. The defendant has a right to a fair trial, and the people are entitled to hear the facts of the case under sworn testimony in open court.

At stake here is far more than the reputation of one man. The integrity of the licensing

system and government’s

ability to regulate the fledgling casino industry are on the line.

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