Leading from the front

As your DA, I pledged: “I am going to be a courtroom District Attorney.”  It was my intention to lead from the front by trying cases, rather than sitting behind a desk.  It had always been my belief that the District Attorney should be the hardest working attorney, and I would never ask someone to do something that I wasn’t prepared to do myself.  The office of District Attorney under my direction was going to work hard from the top down, ensuring that the people of Lackawanna County are well served.”

Since taking office, I have been a courtroom attorney who leads from the front.  I personally try cases, work with my staff to improve prosecutions and increase conviction rates.  I mentor younger prosecutors on trial advocacy strategies, case preparation and trial presentation.  And, I work closely with county detectives, municipal police departments and the Pennsylvania State Police to ensure effective investigations and prosecutions.

As Your DA, I:

• Served as the lead prosecutor in all First-Degree murder cases in the office.

• Personally, tried and secured convictions in five cases in my first year in office, including a first-degree murder conviction that had sat stagnant for 4 years.

• Solved murder case of Robert Baron that occurred one year before I was sworn into office.  With unyielding perseverance, the prosecution team discovered      Mr. Baron’s remains in 2023 and convicted Justin Schuback of First Degree Murder in 2024 sentencing him to life in prison for the brutal crime.

• Solved the cold case murder of Melissa Rocuba that occurred in 2013 but remained uncharged until 2022.

• Re-sentenced a juvenile defendant, Joey Aulisio, who committed two brutal murders to 60 years to life in response to case law which reversed his life sentence.

• Aggressively prosecuted drug delivery resulting in death.

• Successfully argued cases before both the Pennsylvania Supreme and Superior Courts.

• Shut down several illegal businesses that housed gang activity in the City of Scranton.

Fiscally sound

Based on managing a private law practice, “I know what it is like to run a business and make a payroll.  I had been self-employed in private practice and this business experience ensures that I will run a fiscally sound office and save taxpayer dollars.  I know every penny counts and ultimately we work for you, the taxpayer.

Since becoming DA, I made sweeping changes to professionalize the DA’s Office and improve the capabilities and effectiveness of prosecutors and law enforcement officers across the county. My accomplishments include a host of new policies, procedures and protocols designed to improve the Criminal Justice System in Lackawanna County and keep our communities safe.

Under My Leadership, I:

• Eliminated part-time Assistant DA positions who worked in private practice. All ADA’s are now fully devoted county prosecutors.

• Instituted deadlines for plea offers.

• Put in a tracking system to make sure charges are filed and cases are prosecuted in a timely manner.

• Established a trial preparation program for every case that’s going to trial. 

• Developed and adopted a Uniform Policy Manual for police officers to follow in the handling of all crimes.

• Conducted training seminars for law enforcement. 

• Developed and adopted a new, more comprehensive Confidential Informant Policy.

• Developed and adopted an Evidence Destruction Policy for police departments to dispose of evidence from closed cases.

• Developed and adopted an Employee Handbook. 

• Developed and adopted a first-ever File Retention Policy governing the destruction of old files from closed cases in the DA’s Office. 

• Developed and adopted a Bail Forfeiture Policy to recover bail when a defendant absconds. 

• Spearheaded an overhaul of the Specialty Court for Domestic Abusers.

In addition, I secured millions of dollars in new Federal grant money that was put into our local economy saving local tax dollars.  With the grant money, I was able to put boots on the ground and purchase necessary forensic equipment to aid law enforcement across the county.

Independent

When I ran for office, I declared that “A prosecutor must be fiercely independent.” I feel as strongly about that today as I did then. Simply put, there’s no room for special interest, political favoritism, or backroom deals. I prosecuted hard cases despite political pressure because it was the right thing to do. Period. I believe that Justice must be Blind. It’s the only way to maintain the integrity and transparency of the office guaranteeing equal justice for all.