Familiar Faces at Dent's Town Hall

Among the 400 people at Congressman Charlie Dent's Hanover Tp Community Center town hall on Friday was none other than Jim Gregory. Right behind Gregory is another famous local celebrity, Morning Call columnist Bill White. For some reason, the mere sight of me brought smiles to their faces. I checked, and my zipper was up. I would have stopped to chat, but I was working. It's not easy to be an award-winning bottom-feeding blogger.

Bethlehem City Council, Snakes and Jim Gregory

I dropped in on an what was supposed to be an uneventful meeting of Bethlehem City Council last night. I was there because Jim Gregory, fresh out of the state can, pledged he'd be making his triumphant return. He showed up, too, fashionably late. Instead of sharing his pearls of wisdom, he just sat there.

Before the meeting started, at a Committee hearing, DCED Director Alicia Karner and  Planning Director Darlene Heller stated that they've received no plans for the Martin Tower development, although there have been discussions. This is likely the result of a procedural challenge to the new mixed use zoning ordinance at the site, which remains undecided at this point.

The meeting started with an invocation by Planning Commissioner and former Council member Lou Stellato. I hate when public officials try to impress everyone with their holiness and refused to participate in the hypocrisy. If they can't arrange to get a preacher, then forget the whole thing.

I'm used to seeing 100 or more at a meeting, but last night, there were only 14 people in attendance, aside from City employees,

One citizen complained that he had filed a Right-to-Know request seeking records of all City employees who live elsewhere. He was angry that his request had been denied on the basis that there is no such record. Under our Right-to-Know law,  a municipality has no obligation to create records that are responsive to a request. What this fellow should have done is request the home addresses of every City employee. But it might not do him any good. Home addresses of pubic safety personnel are exempt. Other employees must be notified of a request and provided an opportunity to make their own objection.

This guy can lead City Council in prayer next time.

The topic that dominated this meeting is snakes. No, not politicians. Real snakes

Joe Pearl and William Eaton have bought George's Light Lunch, which used to operate on the West side.They plan to reopen it at 129 E Third Street on the South Side. They sunk $1.5 million into the project so far, but just weeks before opening, they began to notice that something really stinks.

They followed their noses and it led them to 125 E Third Street, which is owned by Dr. Gary Hunsberger. He apparently raises snakes and mice in his basement.

Snakes stink. According to pearl, the odor is "atrocious." As near as I can tell, it's a defense mechanism in their asses.

Pearl got the City involved, and Hunsberger has been given 60-90 days to get rid of the snakes.

Pearl wants them gone now. "Every dime I put into the South Side is going to be useless," he complained. The City wants to show some compassion to the animals, but pearl wants some compassion for "living and breathing human beings."

Council Prez Willie Reynolds repeatedly told Pearl to take it up with DCED Director Alicia Karner, who had only learned about the snake problem earlier that day.

Willie and Council, however, would do nothing that might endanger the snakes.

Professional courtesy.

Former Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan was at this meeting, too. It's a good thing Callahan was there because Mayor Bob Donchez was at home, battling the flu. Callahan offered to take over a few times, but Dave Brong replied, "I got this."

It was Callahan's first time back at Council since his term as Mayor ended, and the only seat the poor bastard could get was next to me. He told me I stink, too. I must admit I do have a defensive mechanism in my ass, just like snakes. I have been told the smell is nauseating, although I enjoy it myself. Periodically, I shared some of that odor with Callahan, who bolted from the meeting.

As the meeting went on, Gregory couldn't stop staring at me. I'm pretty sure the odor from my ass attracted him. After being in stir so long, I understand his desires. But I'm not that kind of snake.

After the meeting, he cornered Chief Mark DiLuzio and I slipped away.

Beware The Ides of March

Jim Gregory, the Policeman of Love, has maxed out at SCI Pittsburgh,and was recently released. I received this comment last night: "Mark your calender March 15 is judgement day for all the Sauducees and Pharisees, looks like our dear leader has made the final arrangements and will be on a bus to his old stomping grounds within 10 days...."

Just in time to announce that he's running for President!

The Prisoner of Love Should Be Released Any Day

Jim Gregory, the Policeman of Love, has been a police officer, Bethlehem City Council President, Mayoral candidate, union activist, casino gambler, 911 dispatcher, Human Services caseworker, and short-lived shock jock. He is also doing doing hard time since his 8/28/13 arrest for numerous violations of a Protection from Abuse Act Order (PFA) sought and obtained by his ex-girlfriend. But he should be released from Pittsburgh SCI very soon, free to resume his political career and his work as a Kingmaker.

Hopefully, he will stay away from his ex.

Before his 8/28/13 arrest, Gregory had previously been convicted twice for criminal contempt of the PFA. Those convictions stem from repeated attempts to contact his ex via phone text messages, blogs and Facebook. Gregory contended that someone else, possibly his nephew or Tricia Mezzacappa, was responsible. At that time, his pal Tricia Mezzacappa launched a venomous attack against Judge Zito on her blog, accusing him of being too old for the bench, among other things.

After his second conviction, Gregory was sentenced to six months in jail, pending the results of a sealed psychological evaluation. He was released after three weeks, thanks to an impassioned pleas by noted criminal defense lawyer Gary Asteak. Gregory later said that Asteak had instructed him to break off all contact with Mezzacappa,

But Gregory ignored his attorney's sage instructions. He instead bought airtime for his own radio show, and included fellow defamer Tricia Mezzacappa as a co-host for four of his seven broadcasts.

It became LibelFest.

The show alternated between between love songs and vicious attacks at his ex, his ex' mother and any person who had testified or spoken out against him, including yours truly. When not on the air, he'd pepper this blog with numerous comments, sometimes signed with an "8."

Eventually, he began speaking to his ex on the air, offering her a job, imploring her to come back to him. "Lina, not only are you cute, you're adorable. You have a great body, great heart, great soul. You'd be a great salesperson for us, and you also have office skills.... I gave you everything I had except my heart."

One of the contempt citations was based on this direct or indirect contact. Other citations were for about 20 unwanted telephone calls from him, as well as three love notes he smuggled to his ex while he was in jail. One of them, who never met or knew his ex, actually called her after he was released.

During his trial, Gregory attempted to place some of the blame on Harvey, a 6' tall invisible pookah. Judge Leonard Zito imposed a 15-30 month sentence for five separate contempt citations. His conviction was affirmed by the Superior Court.

In the meantime, Gregory continued to contact his ex. She moved.

During his trial, Gregory told Judge Zito that the calls placed to his ex were accidental. But while in state prison, he has managed to delude himself that I figured out a way to make it appear as though his cell phone was placing calls to his ex. He wants me arrested.

In an Epistle from the Can, James I, Gregory warns,

"[D]espite your minions [sic] attempts to keep me here forever, the Lord will raise his hand and strike down the pitiful souls behind my incarceration, and I will return home. Then you, and the others behind this, will see what Righteous Anger can do. Even my friends and family with their myriad sins of omission which helped incarcerate an innocent soul will discover Righteous Anger. The New Testament time has passed. Read Revelation - It's all about Christ and his Righteous Anger and it's coming."

In James II, the Apostle Jim writes, "I'm done playing. Everyone that allowed O'Hare to place me here - better do some quick thinking - God expecting and willing - their time is soon out. Then it's my turn. Cannot wait. Sit and watch. Pack your bags, O'Hare. Or start running."

In James III, Gregory threatens both Northampton County Council and Executive John Brown to hire Tricia Mezzacappa as a supervisory nurse at Gracedale or face the consequences. "[S]he is absolutely qualified for the Gracedale job and should have been hired. Let Brown know that! Or not - then enjoy your one term."

Do I have reason to be concerned? In a word, No. I do not take seriously the idle threats of women beaters. I put them in the same category as those who attack me anonymously.

Gregory's home has been sold, so I have no idea where he'll be staying when he gets out.

Superior Court Rejects Gregory Appeal

At this time two years ago, my blog was all but hijacked by the cRaZy antics of Jim Gregory and his psycho sidekick, Tricia Mezzacappa. They introduced a host of stange peripheral characters. These included a wife beater, a convicted pedophile and some kook who thought he was in the IRA. Everyone was screaming, "Molon Labe!" Gregory was eventually carted away to state prison, where he's expected to max out in February. Yesterday, the Superior Court rejected his appeal from his criminal convictions in a 17-page opinion written by Senior Judge James Fitzgerald. I thought it might be helpful to summarize exactly what happened, to those of you who weren't playing along back in those days.

Jim Gregory has been in and out of the local limelight since 1985, when he was terminated as a Lower Saucon cop for neglect of duty and excessive meal breaks. Over the years, he's been a state house candidate, Bethlehem City Council President, Bethlehem Mayoral candidate and union activist. After a particularly zany period in which he tried to run down a Governor Rendell bus and hopped a fence outside of City Hall, he found employment in Northampton County. Incredibly, it was as a mental health caseworker. After years of relative quiet, he started getting wacky again in 2013.

In May 2013, Geregory's then girlfriend was granted a temporary Protection From Abuse Act order (PFA) based on allegations that Gregory had "kicked, strangled, and choked her, bit her wrist, pushed 'really hard' on her eye sockets, and prevented her from leaving their residence." He had also sent her multiple threatening text messages.

Before there could ever be a final hearing, Gregory was cited for indirect criminal contempt. Following a hearing on July 3, 2013, Judge Leonard Zito entered a final PFA Order, found Gregory in contempt, and placed him on six months of supervised probation. Gregory was unable to stop himself from making contact and was cited for contempt again on July 13, 2013. This time he got a sentence of six months in jail, but Judge Zito relented and paroled Gregory on August 2, 2103, thanks to the outstanding advocacy of Gary Asteak.

Unfortunately, Gary's good counsel was for naught. Gregory continued to contact his ex-girlfriend in various strange ways, and eventually found himself facing five additional charges of indirect criminal contempt. A fed-up Judge Zito sent him away for 15 to 30 months. Here's what Gregory did:

• On July 13, 2013, while in the courtroom, he handed a note to his ex through his lawyer. "I loved you at hello,” he gushed as they carted him away,
• On July 22, 2013, Gregory sent his ex a love note through an inmate. "I loved you at hello,” he gushed again.
• On August 2, 2013, Gregory sent yet another love note through another inmate. "I loved you at hello.” 
• On the day after his release from jail, he called her more than 20 times.
• Gregory also read a message to his ex from his radio show. "I gave you everything you wanted except my heart," he told her. "I didn’t do that, I apologize. You deserve that. If you come back, you’ll get it."

I was a witness against Gregory because I recorded and transcribed that part of the radio show. I made what I believe was a verbatim transcript, and the Court accepted it. Judge Fitzgerald concluded that my testimony was sufficient to authenticate the transcript.

Judge Fitzgerald also quoted, with approval, this portion of Judge Zito's opinion:

[Gregory] had used his considerable intelligence and charm in a manipulative and arrogant manner. The Court rejected his attempt to deflect the blame for his comments during the radio show onto his alter ego. The Court also took a dim view of . . . [Gregory’s] attempt to circumvent the PFA through his fellow inmates.

At his sentencing, . . . [Gregory] handed the letter to [his ex's attorney] in person. The volitional nature of this act is not subject to question. With respect to the phone calls, the Court was entitled to reject . . . [Gregory’s] dubious claim that he had mistakenly dialed [his ex’s] number.

In addition, [his ex] testified that she had received at least twenty calls from the unidentified number later determined to belong to . . . [Gregory]. This volume of calls cannot be attributed to mistaken dialing. With respect to wrongful intent, we observe that . . . [Gregory] has attempted to trivialize his contemptuous conduct. The Court views his repeated transgressions with significantly less levity.

The precipitating event for the PFA was . . . [Gregory’s] unprovoked assault on [his ex]. . . . Thereafter, he continued to violate the letter and the spirit of the PFA. He used his radio show to entreat her to return to him. He enlisted his fellow inmates to write love letters to her. He telephoned her repeatedly from an unidentified number. He even handed her . . . attorney a letter during his sentencing for a prior contempt.

I should point out that the District Attorney's office plays no role in the prosecution of PFA contempt charges, and so advised the Court. Nevertheless, Gregory has had Mezzacappa publish several epistles blaming him. I've been warned to pack my bags, although I refuse to be intimidated by a woman beater.

The one person he refuses to blame is himself.

When he gets out in February, the question is how long will he stay out.

Incidentally, yesterday was also the last day in which Tricia Mezzacappa could seek a review of my defamation judgment against her.  If she has failed to do so, she needs to do one of two things: pay the judgment with interest and costs or hand over the deed to the house she fraudulently transferred to her mother. Failure to do so is just going to make things more expensive for her mother, who has been sued in federal court.

Can Incarcerated Jim Gregory Challenge Ken Kraft?

Ken Kraft filed his nomination papers for Northampton County Council yesterday. He's running in District One, which includes Bethlehem, Hellertown, Freemansburg and Hanover Tp. This is generally considered a safe district for Democrats. But according to Kraft, he's got company. He tells me that Jim Gregory wants to stage a write-in campaign to get on the Republican ticket. What's unusual about this is that Gregory is doing this as an inmate from the State Correctional Institute at Pittsburgh. He may also seek to get on the Republican ballot in the Bethlehem City Council races.

In order to run for office, you have to be a resident of the district in which you're running. Can Gregory make that claim when he's been living in state prisons for the last 18 months? According to The Election Code, he does not lose his residency in Bethlehem by virtue of being incarcerated outside of the district.

The State Constitution bars anyone from office who has been convicted of an "infamous crime." “[A] crime is infamous for purposes of Article II, Section 7, if its underlying facts establish a felony, a crimen falsi offense, or a like offense involving the charge of falsehood that affects the public administration of justice.”

Whether Gregory's multiple convictions of indirect criminal contempt rise to the level of "infamous crime" is unclear to me. But I seriously doubt that he could get enough write-in votes to qualify as a candidate for City or County Council. When he tried to stage a write-in campaign against Bob Donchez for Bethlehem Mayor, he got a grand total of four votes.

If the standard were "nutty crime," Gregory would be disqualified. This is a guy who used to meditate, on the roof of his car and in his underwear, before softball games.

The dude has issues.

Jim Gregory, 1983

Thirty years before being sent to state prison for repeated violations of a PFA, Jim Gregory had his life in front of him. He was even profiled by the Saucon News in an article that read like something out of Match.com.

Now, he is sitting in state prison as the result of repeated violations of the no-contact provisions of a Protection From Abuse Act Order. He pens screeds to anyone and everyone, including his ex,. This is yet another violation of the no-contact provisions of his PFA. He continues to blame everyone but himself for his troubles.

Gregory Commands Council : Hire Mezzacappa or You're Out

From his campaign headquarters located deep in the labyrinth of the State Correctional Institute at Pittsburgh, Jim Gregory is planning his comeback. Between reading Bible passages about God's wrath and singing refrains of "I am an innocent man," Gregory is dispensing campaign wisdom and legal advice to one and all. His latest is a missive to NorCo Council, threatening that they'll all be one-termers unless they do what he tells them to do.

For starters, they must hire Mezzacappa.

"[S]he is absolutely qualified for the Gracedale job and should have been hired. Let Brown know that! Or not - then enjoy your one term."

Gregory, in addition to being a state inmate, is the head of UNITY PAC, which is both penniless and unregistered, He think that makes him the political Kingpin of the Lehigh Valley, although it's more like Pinhead.

Tricia Mezzacappa, you'll recall, was incensed when she was turned down recently as a Supervisory Nurse at Gracedale.

"I'll get you, my pretty," she snarled at the Human Relations clerk who broke the bad news."And your little pig, too!"

Mezzacappa, who has been charged criminally with defrauding a secured creditor, is also running for West Easton Borough Council.

After being rejected, she fired off a public email addressed to every member of Council, as well as Executive John Brown. "Now that I think about it, the County is not deserving of my qualifications and extensive experience, she writes. "Therefore, you need not re-justify your callous and erroneous rejection letter, with more excuses." Mezzacappa, posing under pseudonym "brudgejaxtonsr" at Lehigh Valley Live, has encouraged Executive John Brown "to fire everyone and start again."

Judge Zito, incidentally, has appointed James Brose to represent Gregory in his Superior Court appeal of his multiple convictions of contempt of Protection From Abuse Act orders. He had appointed Matt Deschler, but he advised the Court he has a conflict of interest.

Gregory Warns Morganelli, Yours Truly, That Clock is Ticking

Former Bethlehem City Council President Jim Gregory, who believe it or not is a former NorCo mental health case worker, is currently serving a 15-30 month sentence in state prison for repeated violations of Protection From Abuse Act (PFA) Orders, directing him to stay away from his ex-girlfriend. But criminal Defendant Tricia Mezzacappa, routinely posts his hand-written epistles. His latest rant is here.

Like most people in the can, he's found religion. And like most people who find religion, he has perverted its message to suit himself. He portrays God as basically a Heavenly Hitman, doing Gregory's dirty work.

To District Attorney John Morganelli, who had nothing to do with the PFAs or the contempt citations fuled by Gregory's ex, he warns: "The clock is ticking. It's time for you, for your soul's sake, to end this. It will end sooner or later. Your choice. God Bless."

Defending Mezzacappa, he says the following about her situation: "I'm shocked, honestly, that Mezzacappa has held up against his daily battering. I pray she can hold fast until my return. God willing, it will be soon enough. You've destroyed too many good [unreadable]. Tick Tock."

Updated 11:30 am: Mezzacappa uploads these screeds at Scribd on an account she has changed from her own name to masspress. She has 11 followers, and you can see who they are here. They include wing nuts like Ronnie DelBacco, Mary Ann Schmoyer, the Blog Mentor, Larry Otter, Al Bernotas and Jake Towne,

Gregory Tells Me to Pack My Bags

West Easton common scold Tricia Mezzacappa, unconcerned that Jim Gregory is already in state prison as a result of his criminal behavior, seems intent on ensuring that he stays there.

On my blog, she posted an anonymous comment claiming we should all forgive Jim Gregory for beating women and violating PFA Orders because, after all, he is a vegetarian.  I responded that he's a monster. I saw the way he attempted to intimidate his ex during his contempt hearings, and the way he stared at her. Fortunately, so did an Assistant DA, who stood between Gregory and his ex and stared right back. Fortunately, so did Deputy Sheriffs, who told Gregory to knock it off.

Mezzacappa apparently printed out my responses and forwarded them to Gregory, knowing they would get a reaction. And they did. She published his reaction, which includes essays entitled  "The Death of Bernie O'Hare" and "O'Hare's Spiritual Death". He claims that "[i]f I were in any way close, even remotely close to the monster he attempts to portray me as, he'd [scratched out]." I have no idea what he scratched out, but I have an imagination. He also states, "I'm done playing. Everyone that allowed O'Hare to place me here - better do some quick thinking - God expecting and willing - their time is soon out. Then it's my turn. Cannot wait. Sit and watch. Pack your bags, O'Hare. Or start running."

In November, he had promised that God would soon smite down his enemies.

"[D]espite your minions [sic] attempts to keep me here forever, the Lord will raise his hand and strike down the pitiful souls behind my incarceration, and I will return home. Then you, and the others behind this, will see what Righteous Anger can do. Even my friends and family with their myriad sins of omission which helped incarcerate an innocent soul will discover Righteous Anger. The New Testament time has passed. Read Revelation - It's all about Christ and his Righteous Anger and it's coming."

These bizarre little screeds must be finding their way to the Parole Board. It seems less than enthusiastic about releasing someone who is threatening others, even a bottom-feeding blogger. Personally, I don't take threats from women beaters seriously.

The Second Coming of Jim Gregory

The end times are near. It is time to prepare for the second coming, not of Jesus Christ, but Jim Gregory. Form a state prison in Pittsburgh, he has written to warn that he'll be back. He's also ready to display "Righteous Anger" to everyone who has sinned against him. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

His latest epistles (there are three of them) are published in Tricia Mezzacappa's blog, to which I refuse to link. The Pennsylvania Superior Court has just affirmed a conviction based in part on the use of her blog to harass people, so i can see she learned her lesson. But she may have been pressured by Gregory. "I will ask Angel if this goes to print as is," he warns. "If not, my friend, we will part."

So what does the man who takes full responsibility for John Brown's election as NorCo Ecec have to say for himself? Well, among other things, I am the son of Satan. But most of you already know that.

My Evil Powers might surprise you. Among other things, I apparently control the Bethlehem Police Department. "He had to use the Bethlehem cops to remove my computers (finding nothing) and my ex-girlfriend to file charges to get me off the radio ..."

As most of you know, good always triumphs over evil. Gregory promises he will be back.

"[D]espite your minions [sic] attempts to keep me here forever, the Lord will raise his hand and strike down the pitiful souls behind my incarceration, and I will return home. Then you, and the others behind this, will see what Righteous Anger can do. Even my friends and family with their myriad sins of omission which helped incarcerate an innocent soul will discover Righteous Anger. The New Testament time has passed. Read Revelation - It's all about Christ and his Righteous Anger and it's coming."

He also takes a few shots at District Attorney John Morganelli, who had nothing to do with having him sent away, and Judge Leonard Zito, who bent over backwards to give him a break.

Morganelli: "I could be a Saducee [sic], a collaborationist like Mmorganelli. He's a political contortionist and opportunist who did his very best to obliterate my reputation by allowing me to be jailed and allowing my ex-girlfriend to perjure herself under oath and on the search warrant ... ."

Zito: "In one fell swoop [Judge Zito] was able to please John Callahan, John Morganelli and John Stoffa. What a shocker that he got the Senor Judge job by chopping off my head."

Jim Gregory PFA Contempt Hearing Continued

I believe that the hearing was postponed because the video equipment for Gregory was being used on another matter. When there is a new date, I'll let you know.

Gregory Faces New PFA Contempt Charge

Jim Gregory has been a police officer, Bethlehem City Council President, Mayoral candidate, union activist, casino gambler, 911 dispatcher, Human Services caseworker, and short-lived shock jock. He is also a state correctional system inmate, serving a 15-month sentence imposed by Judge Leonard Zito for repeated violations of Protection From Abuse Act Orders. With credit for good-time, I expected that he would be out by now. But not after learning that he's been cited again with contempt of PFA Orders. Judge Zito has scheduled a hearing for July 11.

Last September, when Gregory was sentenced, Judge Zito found him to be both arrogant and manipulative, and seemed especially appalled that the self-proclaimed Mensan would use inmates to send letters to his ex and even contact her after their release.

Gregory was repeatedly told that he is barred from any contact with either his ex, his sister and even his mother. But believe it or not, he has continued to write letter after letter to his ex. She has a shoe box full of them. She knows he's in violation, but is trying to ignore him.

A cocktail waitress at the Sands was also concerned about continued Gregory contacts from state prison, after he was warned to stay from her by state police. She declined to prosecute as well, fearing the bad publicity that would result and its possible impact on her success in beauty pageants.

But his sister filed charges. He continues to send letters to her and her mother, despite being told not to do so.

Gregory actually expected the PFAs to be withdrawn after the election. "The man pushing the complaints through others just lost the election," he informed the PFA Office. "My friend John Brown won. Great guy. Tell him I said Hello in January."

I don't know if the PFA passed on Gregory's regards, but I do know that he is operating under the delusion that he is some sort of political prisoner. In fact, he is a criminal who bullies and hurts women.

His wife (believe it or not, he's married) is divorcing him. His home was burglarized by someone who knew he was in jail and took the time, for some reason, to shred a portrait of his ex-girlfriend. His home is in foreclosure. He appears to be well on the way to serving additional time when he should have been out by now.

All he has to show for the past year is four write-in votes last November.

Is Jim Gregory Harassing Woman In the Can?

If anyone belongs in Bill White's Mount Rushmore Hall of Fame, it's got to be ex-cop, ex-Councilman, ex-County worker, ex-shock jock and ex-con Jim Gregory. How someone can end up with a 15 month state prison sentence for non-violent violations of Protection From Abuse Act (PFA) Orders is nothing short of a miracle. He managed to do it, and may very well be earning himself some extra time.

According to Friday's Bethlehem police blotter, police are investigating an unidentified state prison inmate male, who is sending letters to someone at the Sands Casino after being told to stay away from her by Pennsylvania State Police. The matter is marked "open," indicating no charges have been filed ... yet.

Is this Jim Gregory? Here's what I know.

The Beauty Queen

Back in August, before Jim Gregory was sent to Graterford, Camp Hill and Pittsburgh State Correctional Institutes for multiple violations of a Protection From Abuse Act (PFA) Order, he had his eyes set on yet another beauty. 

But the newspapers never gave him a chance.

On WGPA-AM, he discussed a blossoming one-sided romance with a Sands waitress who was a Miss Pennsylvania contestant. "I just looked into her eyes, like I did when I met [my ex]. ... Not only was she beautiful inside, but she was beautiful outside."

There you go. Kinda' like me.

On his show, he named her, and even showed her picture on the live-stream. I'm sure she was delighted. 

He said he gave her a $600 gold and diamond chain and set up sponsors to help her in her beauty pageant. But for some reason, this attractive 20-something with a boyfriend wanted nothing to do with a guy in his 60s.

Go figure.

State police had to tell him to back off, according to what Gregory himself said

On his short-lived and libelous radio show, Gregory blames it all on bad publicity from The Express Times. 

He was hoping to have her on his show as a guest, but got popped right after one of his broadcasts. 

Docket sheets do not list any new charges against Gregory. But it's hard to believe there could be another person out there like him. I'll be watching this.

Mezzacappa Falling Out

In other Jim Gregory news, he's had a falling out with his moll, Tricia Mezzacappa. She described him in Court as her "significant other", but now she's speculating publicly that he's involved in smuggling contraband.

At least she hasn't accused him of rape.

This fight is over material things.

He asked her to return his iPod and other items that he either gave or loaned her, but she ignored his letter.

She has a habit of ignoring letters, like she did with the certified mail notice of her nonjury trail.

Gregory wrote again.

"I'd like to remain friends," he tells her. "Please don't make me involve the police. Just do as I ask." So she published his letter, even though it contains the phone numbers of innocent people, one of whom seems to be his wife. 

And she wonders why people get upset with her. 

Mezzacappa denies having anything that belongs to Gregory, except a birdcage, and she refuses to return it. 

He'll have to file a replevin action, I guess. 

Who's telling the truth? Mezzacappa or Gregory? How'd you like to have to make that call?

Can You Say Councilman Jim Gregory?

Several sources tell me that Jim Gregory, who currently is receiving the hospitality of our state correctional system, is among the applicants for Bob Donchez' job on Bethlehem City Council. The policeman of love, Gregory had the book thrown at him for repeated contempt of a Protection From Abuse Act Order. Over the Summer, both his sister and his ex-girlfriend had to seek judicial protection from physical abuse. At that time, he was also a write-in candidate for Bethlehem Mayor.

After his third contempt conviction, which amazingly included appeals to his ex on a radio show that he purchased, Judge Leonard Zito imposes a 15-month sentence. He found Gregory to be both arrogant and manipulative, even to the point of using county inmates to send letters to his ex. She was even contacted by one of them after his release. Gregory was kind enough to provide her home address.

Gregory believes he is a political prisoner, incarcerated as a result of some scheme involving Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, Northampton County Executive John Stoffa, DA John Morganelli, the Bethlehem police and yours truly. I may have missed a few of my co-conspirators, but you know who you are.

Gregory has appealed the sentence imposed by Judge Zito.

He did receive four write-in votes in November.

If Council appoints Gregory, they'll have to wait awhile.

I will try to get a copy of his application today.

On a more serious note, here's what I'm hearing. (I have not yet spoken to Council members, who likely are unwilling to discuss this for a blog)

Outgoing DCED Director Joe Kelly already has three votes lined up. His candidacy is apparently being pushed by Bethlehem City Council member Mike Recchiuti, who also chairs the city Democratic committee. Rechhiuti needs four votes, including his own. If he gets that fourth vote, the possibility of an anti-Donchez Council is very real. Incoming Mayor Bob Donchez decided against keeping Kelly in his administration.

You might think that fourth vote would come from J.Willie Reynolds, one of Mayor John Callahan's biggest supporters on Council. But Reynolds apparently is opposed to the idea. Maybe he is concerned that the Council could easily become anti-Callahan. Or maybe he's worried that Kelly is a potential Mayoral rival.

I personally feel Joe should take a sabbatical from City politics. My reason has nothing to do with his qualifications or his attitude, which I've always admired. I just feel he needs a break, and don't see a position on Council doing him any good. He took the Callahan loss hard, and that's the wrong frame of mind to have coming into government.

Is there another interested person?

I'm told Sonia Vazquez, principal at Donegan Elementary School on the City's Southside, is interested. She has devoted her life to children, families, and her community.

I know some may actually dislike seeing another teacher in public office. But she has deep roots in Bethlehem and obviously understands the plight of many struggling families on the South side. She also adds some sorely needed ethnic diversity.

Mayor elect Bob Donchez is reportedly staying away from the decision over his replacement on the board, believing it is Council's call.

Move Over, Jim Gregory

I don't quite know how Jim "Graterford" Gregory is going to take this, but there's another write-in candidate for Bethlehem Mayor. His name is Todd Dietrich, and appears to be upset by the "disgracefully negative campaign" run by Bob Donchez in the primary, in which he bested Willie Reynolds. So he figured he might as well run himself, and announced via a news release from aptly named Blabbermouth Communications.

Though he claims to have won a pie-eating contest, this will be Dietrich's first venture into politics. An Independent since age 18, his Facebook page indicates he has attracted far left supporters like the unbearably smug Jonathan Geeting. Together, they will create Shangri La.

Except even Geeting is sure the dude will lose.

Dietrich has lived in Bethlehem for two years, and thinks that's long enough for him to know how to run the City.

No word on whether Dietrich, like Gregory, believes there's a vast conspiracy to keep people from finding the truth, involving Donchez, DA John Morganelli, Mayor John Callahan, the Bethlehem police, all the judges, the Vatican and Colonel Sanders.

This Thursday, you can ask him. He's hosting a Meet'n Greet at Tapas on Main from 5 – 8 PM.

Don't know if he's booked any air time on WGPA.

Bob Donchez Unable to Rest Easy

You might think Bethlehem Mayoral candidate Bob Donchez can rest easy. He overcame a powerful primary campaign mounted by J. Willie Reynolds. No Republican ran. The only independent in the race dropped out. But according to Morning Call columnist Bill White, the Jim Gregory machine is still hard at work on his write-in campaign, although Graterford State Correctional Institution must present some tactical problems. He's gonna' have a helluva' time scheduling a Meet 'n Greet.

Based on Bill's article, it appears that Gregory has learned nothing from his time in state prison. But if I were he, I'd stay there as long as possible because West Easton Wacko Tricia Mezzacappa has claimed in court papers that he is both her "boyfriend" and "significant other."

If he thinks he has problems now, wait 'till he gets out.

Zito Denies Gregory Prison Motion

I guess I can now say safely that Jim Gregory is a former write-in candidate for Mayor in Bethlehem. He won't be out of state prison in time for the November election. He's doing hard time - 15 months - for repeated violations of a Protection From Abuse Act (PFA) Order. Even during a radio show. Even while inside the County jail. But he filed a motion for reconsideration, and I thought a hearing was scheduled last Friday.

Now comes word that Gregory's motion has been denied by Judge Leonard Zito. "AND NOW, this 8th day of October 2013 upon consideration of Defendant's Motion for Reconsideration of Sentence filed on September 16, 2013, it is hereby ORDERED that the Motion for Reconsideration of Sentence is DENIED. BY THE COURT: Leonard Zito, J"

Judge Zito Will Hear From Gregory on Friday

Jim Gregory, a former Northampton County Human Services worker and write-in candidate for Bethlehem Mayor, is currently serving 15-month sentence at Graterford State Prison. Judge Leonard Zito imposed that sentence on September 6 because of Gregory's repeated violations of Protection From Abuse Act Orders. Judge Zito called him "arrogant and manipulative."

Gregory's lawyer, Michael Corcoran, filed an unrepentant motion for consideration, calling the state prison sentence "unduly harsh" while simultaneously attempting to minimize Gregory's repeated violations.

Judge Zito has scheduled a hearing this Friday, 9 AM, to entertain Gregory's motion.

Gregory Asks Judge Zito to Reconsider State Time

Jim Gregory, a former Northampton County Human Services worker and write-in candidate for Bethlehem Mayor, is currently a guest of Graterford State Prison. He's serving a 15-month sentence imposed by Judge Leonard Zito on September 6 for repeated violations of Protection From Abuse Act Orders. Calling Gregory "arrogant and manipulative," Judge Zito seemed particularly troubled by Gregory's use of county jail inmates to smuggle notes to his ex-girlfriend. Gregory even bought time on  radio station WGPA 1100 AM to read a note to his ex. This was a direct violation of the Abuse Order, which prohibits all contact by any means.

In an unrepentant motion filed last week, Attorney Michael Corcoran has asked Judge Leonard Zito to reconsider. Calling Zito's sentence "unduly harsh and excessive," Corcoran characterizes Gregory's no-contact violations as "benign and innocuous."

Corcoran also argues that Gregory's on-air message to his ex-girlfriend is harmless because she only became aware of it because of me. "Had it not been for the intervention of a third party with his own agenda [that would be me], [Gregory's ex] would not have been aware at all of the content of that call."

Actually, that's untrue. She did not listen to the actual program because she was away, but saw the livestream upon her return. My role was limited to providing a transcript of his commentary so that Judge Zito would have an accurate account.

Finally, Corcoran argues that he's been told that Gregory's home has been burglarized, and is needed to inventory the assets. There is no record of any burglary reported at The Bethlehem Police Blog, so Corcoran may have been misinformed on that point.

There is no indication, on the record, that a hearing has been scheduled.