The fallout from the arrest of suspended Scott Twp. Police Chief James Romano in the upcoming sex assault trial of a former Lakeland band teacher became more apparent Monday as a judge agreed to delay the trial until the fall.
During Monday's pretrial hearing for Matthew Stevens, his attorney, Joseph D. Caraciolo, said he may subpoena the state attorney general's office for records of its investigation of the chief, who they say had sex with a potential trial witness four days after Mr. Stevens' preliminary hearing in March.
That witness, a 20-year-old woman, told investigators Mr. Stevens had sex with her when she was a minor. County prosecutors have not filed additional charges against the former 31-year-old high school band instructor regarding her claim.
Mr. Stevens, however, is awaiting trial on charges he had numerous sexual encounters with a 17-year-old female student last year.
The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual abuse.
Meanwhile, the state Attorney General's office charged Chief Romano with witness intimidation and evidence tampering, in part, for instructing the woman not to tell police about their sexual encounter at his home until after Mr. Stevens' trial.
County prosecutors considered having the victim testify at the trial. The chief is also listed as an investigator in Mr. Stevens' case. Deputy District Attorney Jennifer McCambridge said she is now evaluating whether the woman will testify in light of the chief's arrest. No decision has been made, she said.
Mr. Caraciolo has not yet received records from state or county prosecutors regarding the chief's alleged conduct with the witness and his involvement with Mr. Stevens' case. State investigators are in possession of the information, Miss McCambridge said at the hearing.
Mr. Caraciolo asked Lackawanna County Judge Vito P. Geroulo to delay the trial, which was set to begin this month, because he wants to get the records and then determine to what extent the chief may have tampered with witnesses. That could be an important issue at trial, he said, adding that he would be "happy" to sit in on the chief's upcoming preliminary hearing. Judge Geroulo agreed and said he would delay the trial until September or October.
Miss McCambridge, however, argued that there are "no allegations" of witness tampering with the former Lakeland student.
"The charges that we filed in this case stand on their own," she said.
The girl also testified about her relationship with Mr. Stevens at his preliminary hearing. At the hearing, she described the evolution of their relationship, saying they exchanged text messages tinged with sexual undertones, which led to kissing, and then to her performing oral sex on him behind the closed door of the school's band room closet.
She said they had so many sexual encounters - including in his office, in a uniform closet, by a school stage and at his home - that she could not recall the exact number.
Contact the writer: smcconnell@ timesshamrock.com
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