Sanguedolce and Pedri

Sanguedolce and Pedri

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<p>Sanguedolce</p>

Sanguedolce

<p>Pedri</p>

Pedri

Luzerne County Manager C. David Pedri told county council and the election board Thursday it is “shocking” that the county District Attorney’s Office dropped felony charges against a man accused of seeking a mail ballot under the name of his deceased mother.

The communication prompted a sharp response and accusations of politicking from DA Sam Sanguedolce.

Prosecutors withdrew two felony counts of forgery and election interference against Forty Fort resident Robert Richard Lynn and instead added a third-degree misdemeanor charge of violations relating to absentee or mail-in ballots. County detectives had charged Lynn, a registered Republican, in October after the county election bureau flagged an application submitted in his mother’s name, even though she had been listed as deceased since 2015.

Pedri expressed his reaction in an email, saying he was sending the response because a few council and election board members had reached out to him about the alteration of the charges.

The county administration had discovered and investigated the alleged voter fraud and turned the matter over to the District Attorney’s Office, which obtained a full confession from Lynn that “he did, in fact, commit voter fraud,” Pedri wrote.

Sanguedolce is not required to receive consent from or consult with those who report crimes — in this case the county administration — before a plea agreement is reached, Pedri wrote, describing the district attorney as the county’s top law enforcement officer.

“Nevertheless, I wanted to make it clear to you that county administration was not contacted prior to this deal being cut for Mr. Lynn,” Pedri wrote.

Sanguedolce said he was not copied on Pedri’s email “castigating” his decision.

The DA said he is certain council and the election board already knew the District Attorney’s Office does not need the approval of the county manager or administration in evaluating cases and reaching plea agreements.

“As a member of the District Attorney’s administration from the inception of home rule, I find the timing of this first-ever criticism by the county manager suspect,” Sanguedolce wrote. “If I were a bit more skeptical, I would believe that this email is another blatant, political stunt, in which the manager is utilizing his position to garner an advantage in his thinly veiled ‘testing of the waters’ of his bid to be district attorney.”

Pedri has been widely named as a possible Democratic DA candidate against Republican Sanguedolce this year, although Pedri has not verified his plans.

Sanguedolce said he stands by the plea agreement and that the defendant is “pleading to the most legally accurate, applicable charge.”

“My review of the other charges with the assigned assistant district attorneys and detectives resulted in a unified agreement that the correct grading of any other charge applicable to this case is also misdemeanor, not a felony as pontificated by the manager,” Sanguedolce wrote.

Previously the first assistant DA, Sanguedolce was automatically appointed to fill the DA’s post March 25, when Stefanie Salavantis resigned because she is running for county judge.

In his statement Thursday, Sanguedolce said the county “has now witnessed” Pedri “utilize his pick for county solicitor to pay outside legal counsel to oppose the District Attorney’s Office in litigation over vacating DA Salavantis’ seat; disregard the experienced Election Board Solicitor’s legal opinion regarding the election occurring in 2023; hire the same attorney opposing the DA’s Office in litigation to give one opinion, a second opinion, and an argument to the Election Board, which was contrary to the opinion of the Election Board’s own Solicitor’s opinion, in an attempt to force a November special election; and now, use his position for his own political gain.”

Sanguedolce said he has nearly 20 years of experience charging and prosecuting cases in the office and stands by the work of the assistant district attorneys and county detectives.

“In the future, should the manager have legitimate questions about our work, I welcome the county manager to contact our office instead of using his position to grandstand for his own benefit,” Sanguedolce wrote.

Responding to Sanguedolce’s reply Thursday night, Pedri said he is “shocked but not surprised at Mr. Sanguedolce’s personal attacks on me.”

“I’m sure he’s trying to draw attention away from the fact that he just missed an opportunity to lead in a matter of national importance,” Pedri said. “Fraud of any kind cannot be tolerated and undermines faith in the bedrock of our democracy.”

Pedri said his email was intended “merely to inform” officials of the procedure because some did not realize the administration had no say in the matter.

He questioned what would have occurred if the media had not reported the change in charges, asking if the DA intended the matter to be “pushed to the rear and away from public attention.”

“Election fraud has to be met head-on,” Pedri said.

In response to references to her office, county Chief Solicitor Romilda Crocamo said the county Office of Law has had a “long-standing, successful working relationship” with the District Attorney’s Office.

“However, District Attorney Sanguedolce is misinformed as to what has taken place. I look forward to discussing this with county council at the meeting on Tuesday,” Crocamo said.

DA race

The county election board recently voted April 28 to place the DA race on the November ballot instead of waiting until candidates can run and be nominated by voters in the 2023 municipal primary. It’s unclear if the board’s election timing decision will be legally challenged. Municipal elections are held every two years, including 2021.

If the race in is on the November ballot, the county Democratic and Republican party organizations will each have the option to choose a DA contender to appear on the November ballot because it’s too late to add candidates to the upcoming May 18 primary ballot for voters to select nominees.

Pedri would have to resign as manager if he runs for DA. The manager cannot file a petition for nomination or election or become a candidate for any elective public office unless he or she first resigns, the county’s home rule charter says.

Current DA Sanguedolce would be the likely Republican party choice.

County Councilman Walter Griffith sent a reply to Pedri’s email, questioning if the administration will continue sending emails “regarding the appearance of any incorrect decisions of the district attorney from now until election day.”

“Please clarify if you plan to run for the position of district attorney in November or not so we know the reason for these emails,” Griffith wrote.

Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.