(R State Sen) Regola's son gets probation in Farrell case

The son of state Sen. Robert Regola III was ordered to serve one year on probation for illegally possessing a firearm.

Robert "Bobby" Regola IV, now 18, was adjudicated delinquent in October of the misdemeanor offense. Westmoreland County Juvenile Court Judge Christopher Feliciani sentenced him to probation Wednesday, sources said. The hour-long hearing took place behind closed doors.

The charge against Regola, a senior at Hempfield Area High School with no prior offenses, was filed in the aftermath of the July 22, 2006, death of the Regola family's 14-year-old neighbor, Louis Farrell.

Farrell's body was found behind his home with a gunshot wound to his head. Police said Sen. Regola's 9 mm Taurus handgun was used in the shooting. Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha ruled the death a suicide, although the Farrell family disputes that finding.

Bobby Regola was prosecuted in juvenile court for possessing a gun. His father, a first-term Republican from Hempfield, faces a felony gun charge as well as perjury and related offenses. Police allege the gun was kept in his son's bedroom before being moved to the senator's bedroom.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_558153.html

The attorneys for state Sen. Robert Regola claim a gun charge filed against him should be dismissed because his teen-age son had a constitutional right to possess a gun to defend himself while his family was out of town.
At issue is an allegation that Regola allowed a juvenile to have access to a gun. Regola was charged after the death of his 14-year-old neighbor, Louis Farrell, who was shot in the head with a gun owned by the senator.

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In court documents filed Wednesday, Regola's defense team contends that the felony gun charge against the senator should be dismissed because it is unconstitutional.

"It simply cannot be constitutional (for) a citizen (of) this commonwealth to lack the ability to possess a firearm for self protection purposes in his own home. To the extent that Sen. Regola is being prosecuted for his son's possession of a firearm, it is submitted that such prosecution should be dismissed," wrote defense lawyer Charles Porter.

Regola's defense team submitted 18 pages of legal arguments asking Westmoreland County Judge John Blahovec to throw out the gun charge as well as felony perjury counts and a misdemeanor offense of reckless endangerment. The defense also wants District Attorney John Peck removed from the case.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_555785.html

State Sen. Bob Regola has gotten a little help from his friends to defend himself and his teenage son against criminal charges stemming from the death of a neighbor boy who was fatally shot with the senator's handgun.

A legal defense fund, set up last spring by Hempfield resident Brad Mellor, has raised more than $14,000 to pay attorneys representing the first-term Republican from Hempfield and his son.

Sen. Regola, 45, of Hempfield is charged with felony perjury and firearms counts and misdemeanor offenses of false swearing and reckless endangerment.

He allegedly gave authorities conflicting statements about how he stored the 9 mm Taurus pistol used in the shooting of Louis Farrell, 14, in July 2006. Farrell's body was found in his backyard, next door to the Regola home. Coroner Kenneth Bacha ruled that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_554417.html

the whole thing is so disgusting. Regola should be made to step down, he is a disgrace. Everyone knows the true story.