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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Morganelli - One Hard-Working DA

At this moment, NorCo DA John Morganelli is enmeshed in the prosecution of two Scranton-area men accused of fleecing Bethlehem Township out of more than $830,000 in a streetlight scam. After this alleged embezzlement, they spent $75,075 on Democratic campaigns throughout the state, including those of Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan and Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski.

This white-collar prosecution, unlike high profile murders, is one that requires painstaking attention to detail. Instead of breaking down in tears, jurors are more likely to brake down in snores. Morganelli could easily avoid this trial and let an assistant handle it, but there he is, doing it himself.

Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows that I can and do criticize Morganelli. But like him or not, he puts in the time. In his years as DA, he has personally tried over 20 murder cases. And he's known for being very frugal with his own budget.

So at a time when five of Northampton County's nine Council members can't be bothered to attend their own reorganization, it's nice to know that one County official still shows up.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not that frugal

Anonymous said...

I don't always agree with him either I never question that he's a good man and a hard worker

Anonymous said...

The man is one of the hardest working public servants in the County if not the State. He leads by example and does a great job. For what he does and his staff does, they are woefully underpaid.

Anonymous said...

I think he should run for something else - again.

Anonymous said...

He is there early, he stays late. Hr is engaged in the issues. He works hard for the citizens of NC. Proud to have him as our DA.

Anonymous said...



Keep up the GOOD WORK!!!

Anonymous said...

I like the guy a lot. But, I am probably going to get run out of town for saying this. In all the years I worked at the Courthouse those assistant DA's took a lot of cases for guilty pleas that weren't ready. Those cases lacked a lot of information, especially information that were vital to the case. They schlepped a lot of that work off to the probation officers to follow up on in the way of Pre-Sentence Investigations. Some of those cases got an ordered to have a Pre-Sentence Investigation performed because it lacked only the information of restitution. Do you have any idea how much work goes into a Pre-Sentence Investigation? And they were/are getting ordered regularly for simple things like missing the final amount of restitution.

It sucked. I mean how do you plead such cases down to the bare minimum, such as the only charge and the nature of that charge deals directly with a defendant making restitution, and not even followed up and what restitution sits at? They leave it up to the PO's to determine restitution. How can someone plead guilty to a case when they don't even know what restitution is? Then the PO has to go and follow up and interview all of the victims. What the hell were the secretaries, assistant DA's, and the DA investigators doing while this case was moving about in their office?

How many times after the cases had be plead out or went to trial and found guilty do they get ordered to have the PO's determine restitution? That comes from the bench. And if the defense attorneys weren't getting such a sweet-heart of a deal for their clients, they shouldn't plead out when they have no idea what restitution is going to be. That is part of the plea. You are agreeing to an amount of restitution and to make payments. Only to be determined later what that actually amount is? Come on?

A lot of victims never receive restitution due to lack of diligence. The information of their victim impact statements never make it to the files or get lost. It was always nice finding out several months into the case or right about when the case is going to close, that no one every followed up on the victim impact statements. And as a PO, I knew after looking at the DA's and Criminal Office's files that their were victims. But I thought that their offices followed up with the victims at the time that these cases were getting ready for trials and guilty pleas.

Now does Morganelli know this? No clue. But my boss at the time claimed that he addressed this on many occasions with his superiors. Where it went from there, I haven't any clue.

And there was never any one DA that handled each specific case. So the PO's couldn't go right up to that DA and address anything that was outstanding in particular to each specific. A lot of times at guilty pleas, it was the first time that assistant DA was ever handling that case and wasn't too familiar with it. Trust me, it made for an interesting guilty plea.

Left hand, meet right hand.

It might seem like a trivial thing, but tell that to a victim that is trying to get their monies.

Thanks for letting me vent. Sometimes I am really glad that I don't work in that environment, anymore.

Bernie O'Hare said...

The people who works there can view your statement as constructive criticism. i'm sure they want it ti be the best it can be,and even if they don't like what you say, it helps them.

Bernie O'Hare said...

12:49, Actually, he is. If you question that, ask Ron Angle, the guy Morganelli sued. he could be pissed as hell at the guy, and would still agree that Morganelli always has a frugal budget.

Anonymous said...

Hey 7:30 if You don't like your job in the probation dept, quit!! someone else would be happy to have that job!!!!

Anonymous said...

Morganelli is for Morganelli. He is paid $169,000 per annum and will retire with at least 70% of his salary plus medical benefits. He should come to work. He sucked on the public teat for thirty years. He tried to abandon his job several times by running for higher office in a middle of his term. He is still raising money. Compared to other DA'S I feel we have a bargain with John. However, don't cannonize him.

Anonymous said...

I did. It was the best decision I ever made.

Anonymous said...

Hey 10:55 am,

If you hone your reading comprehension skills, you will read that I did quit that job.

Anonymous said...

Who gives a shit what Ron Angle thinks.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, that's who.

Anonymous said...

Outrageous cost overruns on the council chambers project were deemed "nice" by an irresponsible spendthrift - and Ron Angle votes to name a park after the guy!

Despite his bullshit bluster, Angle did almost nothing in the area of fiscal responsibility. And despite the hatred he gets from Ds, he was more of go-along-get-along typical politician than they'll admit.

Seriously, a park? C'mon Ron.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Actually, Angle opposed funding the park

Anonymous said...

This group has facilitated light transfers for other municipalities. The verdict will be interesting. Wonder if there are any similarities?

Anonymous said...

John Morganelli is also the king of all shameless self-promotion. Sorry Bernie, he is worst than you. :p

Bernie O'Hare said...

If he is worse than me, that means I am a better self-promoter. Forget spelling and grammar, and just try to use logic now and then. I know your little head may hurt, but you'll thank me.

Anonymous said...

Shameless self-promoting is obnoxious, like your reply, illustrating how you have no sense of humor since you tuned to the Angleside.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I know it's hard to argue on the merits as opposed to name-calling. Your poor little head must hurt.

Anonymous said...

I'm curious Bernie -- why don't you mention that they only contributed $150 to Pawlowski and only $1,000 to Callahan?

In the world of campaign finance, $1,000 isn't much and $150 is 15% of that.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I mention it bc it occurred here locally.