TARBUCK CONFIRMS THAT HE WAS SUBPOENAED TO TESTIFY AGAINST PETTIT

TARBUCK CONFIRMS THAT HE WAS SUBPOENAED TO TESTIFY AGAINST PETTIT

January 25, 2008

Washington-Confirming information already reported in the Weekly Recorder, well known Private Investigator Michael D. Tarbuck confirmed on Wednesday that he was subpoenaed to testify in the Federal Grand Jury dealing with the actions of former District Attorney John Pettit. Tarbuck told the Weekly Recorder that he wanted to set the record straight and end any rumors that were circulating regarding his actions.

Tarbuck has been increasingly concerned about the effect that negative publicity has had on his rebuilding business. Once worth an estimated 10 million dollars, Tarbuck lost most of his fortune in the wake of a series of arrests and high profile articles dealing with his relationship with his long time wife, Mary Lynn.
But as the years have passed, Tarbuck moved his business into the City of Washington and out of South Strabane. The result has been a long and slow rebuilding process for a businessman that was once one of the area’s most successful.

Tarbuck relationship with District Attorney John Pettit has been the subject of a great deal of scrutiny over the past decade. From Pettit’s apparent reluctance to prosecute the various charges brought by South Strabane police, to the infamous Tarbuck letter (published previously in this newspaper) no one has been quite sure of the nature of the relationship.

Tarbuck was scheduled to testify at 1 pm on Tuesday, but was delayed till either later this week or early next week according to a source close to the Tarbuck family. The old family friend was certain that Tarbuck would testify the beginning of next week at the latest.

Tarbuck has continued to be elusive as to just what his testimony might be at the federal grand jury, though many observers believe that it will center on possible payments to the District Attorney as alluded to in the infamous Tarbuck letter. Tarbuck has never confirmed or denied the legitimacy of the letter, though sources close to him have stated that the letter is legitimate.

Regardless, after Tiffany Ryan, few individuals testimony would be as potentially explosive as Tarbuck. A man that has built his reputation on knowing what is going on in the county will now be talking.

What he says and will be asked is still unknown, but it could be the beginning of rocking the very foundation of Washington County politics.