Zito Hammers Gregory W/ 15 Months For PFA Violations

Bethlehem Mayoral candidate and supposed talk show host Jim Gregory will have to run his campaign and radio program from jail. He's just been sentenced to fifteen months in prison for five separate violations of Protection From Abuse Act Orders (PFA) entered against him by Judge Leonard Zito and Senior Judge Lawrence Brenner. It's been that kind of Summer for Gregory. Today's conviction is the third time that he's been in contempt of the PFA since July. He continued violating the PFA even after spending three weeks in jail.

This sentence, which exposes Gregory to state prison, was imposed by Judge Leonard N. Zito. He heard the previous citations filed against the well-known political activist, earlier in the Summer. "This order could not have been any more clear," Judge Zito stated of the directive banning Gregory from initiating any contact with his ex. 

"Let's focus on his intelligence, or lack thereof," Zito remarked before imposing sentence. He acknowledged that everyone claims Gregory is intelligent, but he found Gregory to be both arrogant and manipulative.

Before today's hearing started, Gregory attorney Mike Corcoran asked for a continuance, noting he had only been retained at 10:30 PM the previous evening. But Judge Zito denied the request, noting he was very careful last week to insure that Gregory was put into contact with a lawyer right away. 

Sources tell me Corcoran was reluctant to get involved before being paid, and Gregory's moll, Tricia Mezzacappa, was short on the dough needed. 

Last week, Mezzacappa and fellow traveler Michael Holmes sat in the hallway leading to Judge Zito's courtroom, catcalling potential witnesses as they walked by. But she and Holmes were both absent today.

Before today's hearing got started, Gregory was sitting in the courtroom, and as he did a week ago, attempted to stare down his ex girlfriend. But this time, Assistant District Attorney Pat Broscius positioned herself in Gregory's line of sight, boldly blocking his view. In addition, deputies reprimanded him. 

"That's why you're here," one of them told him. 

Gregory's ex told Judge Zito of Gregory's direct message to her on his radio show at WGPA 1100 AM. He was permitted to broadcast there despite multiple warnings to station owner Joe Timmer that this is precisely what would happen. Gregory attempted blaming the direct contact on "Harvey," a pooka. "You have to watch the movie to understand," Gregory told Zito. 

Corcoran argued that Gregory's statements on a radio show could not be considered as contact because she only found out about his message when I relayed it to her.

Zito ruled that Gregory's radio comment was a direct violation of the PFA. 

3 months.

"Ho. Ho. Ho., My name is Jolly Joe."

Gregory's ex also testified to three separate letters from inmates at Northampton County jail, people she never knew or met, in which Gregory smuggled love notes to her. Gregory testified those inmates were his friends, but denied ever telling them to send her letters. Gregory tried to argue that those letters were sent because he thought the PFA was being dropped, even though one of his love notes clearly states he knows that he can't contact her. 

This really bothered Judge Zito, who seemed to be appalled by Gregory's manipulation of inmates, calling it a "misuse" of his talents.  

3 months. Consecutive. 

"Ho. Ho. Ho., My name is Jolly Joe."

"Ho, Ho, Ho, the show to slam your beau."

Gregory's ex also testified to hang up telephone calls from Gregory, which he attempted to explain away as some sort of accident

3 months. Consecutive. 

She told Judge Zito, incredibly, of a note he slipped to her as he was being carted off to jail.

3 months. Consecutive. 

Finally, she told Judge Zito of an inmate's father who called her with a message from Jim. 

3 months. Consecutive. 

Gregory, in a statement to Judge Zito blasted "immoral and unjust PFA laws" (arrogance attempt) that are just as bad as the law requiring Judge Zito to retire at age 70. (manipulation attempt). He admitted that he may have violated the letter of the PFA, but not its spirit. (stupidity).   

As Gregory did the perp walk down the courthouse corridor, in orange jumpsuit and shackles, he could be heard saying, "What am I gonna' tell my boys?"

The next step in this drama is to hold Timmer and radio station WGPA 1100 AM responsible for his participation in a direct violation of a PFA, a willful invasion into the private lives of two people who are criminal victims and outright defamation over the course of eight straight days.