The jury in the perjury trial of state Sen. Robert Regola III has reached a verdict: Not guilty on all counts.

Attorneys and others involved in the case were called back to the courtroom about 3:30 p.m for the decision.

Mr. Regola, 45, a Republican from Hempfield, was on trial for perjury, false swearing, reckless endangerment and providing a firearm to a minor in a case that involved the suicide of his young neighbor.

When the verdict was returned, Mr. Regola appeared to breathe a sigh of relief, and he subtly pumped his fist in front of his body.

He released a statement after court was dismissed that said, in part: "Today's verdict brings to an end a difficult time for my family and I. I hope [the verdict] will bring some closure to this tragic episode."

The jury began its deliberations just before noon today after the senator's attorney reminded it that tragedies "do not require criminal consequences."

Attorney Charles Porter said there was no "criminality" in connection with the July 2006 shooting death of Louis Farrell, a 14-year-old neighbor, with the senator's handgun.

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Mr. Porter called it a tragedy that Louis killed himself with Mr. Regola's 9 mm handgun.

"It is not a crime but a tragedy," Mr. Porter said. "Don't destroy his life because a tragedy occurred. All tragedies do not require criminal consequence."

But Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck had suggested earlier in his hour-long closing that there was reckless intent in Mr. Regola buying the gun in the first place as a Christmas gift for his son, Bobby, in 2003, when the boy was 14.

Mr. Regola's gun was found in the woods near Louis' body. Mr. Regola's son had given Louis a key to the Regolas' home hours earlier so he could care for the dogs while the family was away. Prosecutors say Louis took the gun and a loaded ammunition clip while he was in the home.

"Isn't this case fitting together," Mr. Peck told the jury, "fitting like a glove on a hand, covering the defendant."