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FBI SEIZES DOCUMENTS
By Sarah Ostovic and Cody Knotts
November 21, 2007
The fate of outgoing Washington County District Attorney John Pettit is in the hands of the United States District Attorney’s Office. Early Tuesday morning, a subpoena was issued requesting documents and other items from the District Attorney’s Courthouse Office. The subpoena was initially served upon the County Commissioners because the office is located within the Courthouse.
According to County Solicitors Mary Lynn Drewitz and J. Lynn DeHaven, a 10 am subpoena was issued upon the Washington County Commissioners. Since Commissioners Bracken Burns and Larry Maggi were in Harrisburg on business, the matter was referred to Drewitz and DeHaven as being the legal representatives of the County. Drewitz said that the County complied “pursuant to the subpoena.”
County Commissioner Diana Irey was informed of the subpoena and gave the following statement to the press “It is based on a grand jury investigation”, though Irey seemed visably happy. Irey suppported the anti corruption movement that helped defeat Pettit two weeks prior.
Following the delivery of the subpoena, which was issued Assistant District Attorney Charles “Todd” Eberle, state and federal law enforcement officers began collecting materials from Pettit’s office. Several undercover agents and members of the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the collection of materials called for in the subpeona. Among items seized in the nearly 5 hour search were more than 6 boxes of documents, three bags, a CPU, and a large safe with the words “District Attorney” lettered across the top.
One of the highlights of the day was when an undercover agent for the FBI walked out of the office wearing latex gloves. Another interesting moment was when a box of files was brought over to the District Attorney’s office from Judge Paul Pozonsky’s office. The computer that was removed was unlikely an assistant District Attorney because they have newer style black computers, so the one that was removed could have been either an older one or a secretaries.
The United States District Attorneys Office issued “no comment” on an investigation into Pettit or the DA’s Office. A Grand Jury will convene on the matter on January 22, 2008.
Pettit said last year that he was the subject of an FBI probe. Throughout the past years, he has been under fire for a number of issues including being sued by a drug dealer for holding more than $50,000 in property.
The 72-year-old Pettit recently lost his bid for a seventh term earlier this month to Republican Steven Toprani.
Several individuals stated that Pettit was in the office earlier but left. Pettit was unavailable for comment.
