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Orie seeks sentencing delay, promises to resign regardless
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Sen. Jane Orie
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State Sen. Jane C. Orie, R-McCandless, who has asked for a two-month delay in her sentencing set for May 21 on public corruption charges, said she will resign from her post then regardless of the judge's decision.
In a motion filed this week, her attorney, William Costopoulos, asked for the postponement because he said he needs additional time to prepare and because he's collecting reference letters on her behalf. Ms. Orie was convicted on 14 of 24 counts against her, including forgery, tampering with evidence, theft of services and ethics violations.
Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning is not expected to make a decision on the motion until at least next week.
In the two-page motion, Mr. Costopoulos wrote, "Sen. Jane C. Orie intends to formally resign from the Senate of Pennsylvania on or before May 21, 2012, even assuming this motion is granted."
Ms. Orie was convicted on March 26 after a month-long trial. It was the second time the case against her was heard by a jury because the first trial in February 2011 ended in a mistrial when prosecutors accused the senator of submitting fraudulent documents to the court.
A spokesman said the district attorney's office opposes the delay.
First Published May 3, 2012 11:40 am
