A state prosecutor and attorneys representing suspended Scott Twp. police chief James Romano reached an agreement behind closed doors Thursday to reduce the chief's bail by $100,000.
They were set to appear before the judge in Lackawanna County Court to argue over the chief's attorneys' petition to reduce his bail from $150,000 straight to as low as having him released on his own recognize even though he is already free on the $150,000 bail.
Police accuse Chief Romano, 42, of having a sexual relationship with a potential witness in a sexual assault case he investigated.
That case involves former Lakeland High School band teacher Matthew Stevens, 31, who police accuse of carrying on a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student.
The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual abuse.
The 20-year-old woman, who authorities say the chief had sex with four days after Mr. Stevens' preliminary hearing on March 13, told investigators she, too, had been sexually assaulted by Mr. Stevens when she was a minor.
Prosecutors have not filed additional charges against Mr. Stevens' regarding her claims, though they have said they considered using her as a potential witness at Mr. Stevens' upcoming trial.
The chief told the woman to deny they had a relationship if questioned by authorities, officials said..
He now faces felony charges involving witness intimidation and a misdemeanor grade offense, tampering with evidence.
The chief's attorneys, Bernard Brown and Frank Ruggiero, recently filed the petition requesting the bail modification because they felt the $150,000 bail was excessive. They also took issue with the method authorities used to arrest the chief.
Police showed up at his home on April 24 and took him into custody at gunpoint in the presence of his daughter.
His attorneys also questioned why they were not informed about the arrest since they were in contact with a prosecutor and agent with the state attorney general's office for at least four weeks prior to the arrest, according to the petition.
The chief does not pose a flight risk and has not attempted to contact any witnesses in the case, his attorneys said.
In Judge Vito P. Geroulo's chambers Thursday, Deputy Attorney General Daniel Dye met with the chief's attorneys. Mr. Dye said he would not contest reducing the chief's bail to $50,000 straight, Mr. Ruggiero and Mr. Brown said at the courthouse after the meeting.
"We had a goal set out and we're just pleased with the outcome," Mr. Brown said.
The hearing was scheduled to happen in court; however, since Mr. Dye and the attorneys stipulated to a bail reduction, there was no need to argue the matter, Mr. Ruggiero said.
Chief Romano sat alone in court with his hands in his lap while his attorneys met with Mr. Dye and the judge.
"Hanging in there," he told a Times-Tribune reporter. Outside the courtroom, he declined further comment.
Mr. Ruggiero said they did not make the request to shore up funds for the chief, who remains suspended without pay. As police chief, he earned $52,624 annually.
The judge did not make a ruling on Thursday, though he is expected to make a decision soon, Mr. Brown said.
Contact the writer: smcconnell@timesshamrock.com, @smcconnellTT on Twitter