Judge ends jury deliberations over questionable document

The trial of state Sen. Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) ended in a mistrial Thursday following charges the defense had doctored written documents used in its case.

Ms. Orie is charged with 10 counts of political corruption for using taxpayer funded employees and equipment to run political campaigns for her sister, state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie-Melvin.

State Sen. Jane Orie (R-Allegheny)

Another sister, Janine, is charged with two counts in the case.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey A. Manning, who presided over the three-week trial, ordered the jury to cease deliberations after Assistant District Attorney Lawrence Claus presented the court with documents used during the trial which he said had been altered.

The allegedly changed documents contained the signature of Jamie Pavlot, former chief of staff to the senator and a key prosecution witness.

Defense Attorney William Costopulous denied the claim, prompting Judge Manning to exclaim, “Ray Charles could see these signatures are doctored. It’s blatant to me.”

The judge told Costopoulos, “I’m not accusing you of anything because I know you too well. This strikes at the very heart of what we do.”

The documents in question, which Ms. Pavlot said she didn’t recognize during the trial, would have indicated her control over a variety of activities in Ms. Orie’s office. Mr. Claus said her signature has been “cut and pasted” onto the documents.