HARRISBURG -- A Dauphin County judge today ruled that he will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to allow e-mail evidence to be used in the public corruption trial of former Beaver County state Rep. Mike Veon and three staff members.

Prosecutors had asked Judge Richard Lewis for a blanket approval to use e-mail evidence. Defense attorneys objected to that move because they want to challenge the authenticity and completeness of some of the e-mail messages.

Prosecutors say the e-mail evidence, much of it obtained from state Rep. H. William DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, is crucial to their case. Defense attorney Joel Sansone said he was satisfied with the judge's ruling because it allows challenges of each e-mail as it is introduced.

Meanwhile, prosecutors and defense attorneys selected six jurors today for the trial scheduled to begin Feb. 1.

Twelve jurors and four alternates will be seated to hear the case, which could last as long as a month.

The defendants are Mr. Veon, who turned 53 today, and his former aides Stephen Keefer, 39, of Fredericksburg; Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink, 47, of Beaver Falls and Brett Cott, 37, of Harrisburg.

All are charged with theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest. Mr. Veon faces a total of 56 counts, Mr. Keefer 16 counts, Ms. Perretta-Rosepink 22 and Mr. Cott 42.

The charges stem from an alleged scheme to use at least $1.3 million in public funds to award bonuses to House Democratic staffers who had worked on political campaigns. The defendants also are accused of using state equipment and state employees' time for political work.

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