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Sentencing set May 7 for Orie Melvin, sister
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Suspended state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin and her sister Janine Orie will be sentenced May 7.
The two women were found guilty on Feb. 21 of using judicial staff, as well as the staffers of another sister, former state Sen. Jane Orie, to work on the justice's campaigns in 2003 and 2009 for the Pennsylvania high court.
Justice Orie Melvin, 56, was found guilty on six of seven counts against her, including conspiracy, theft of services and misapplication of government funds. The jurors in the case before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Lester Nauhaus were deadlocked on another count, official oppression.
Janine Orie, 58, who worked as an administrative assistant for the justice, was also found guilty on six counts, including theft of services, conspiracy and tampering with evidence.
Jane Orie was found guilty on similar charges last year, as well as forgery counts for submitting falsified documents in her own trial. She is serving a 21/2- to 10-year prison term.
First Published March 1, 2013 12:00 am
