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UPDATED: Ex-Hazle Township Solicitor Charles Pedri avoids jail time for theft of funds

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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A Luzerne County judge ruled Wednesday that unsealed documents be released strictly to the attorney of a man charged with homicide.</p><p>Judge Tina Polachek Gartley, who ordered the seal of the documents, oversaw a hearing after Tevon Thomas&#8217; attorney Joseph G. Price<a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/597949/homicide-suspects-attorney-seeks-to-review-documents" target="_blank"> issued a motion requesting the documents be unsealed for his review</a> prior to a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday.</p><p>Gartley ruled for a limited release of the sealed criminal complaint and other documents to Price, and ordered he not distribute the material to any other parties.</p><p>Price was pleased with Gartley&#8217;s ruling.</p><p>&#8220;I think it was a correct decision,&#8221; he said after the hearing.</p><p>Thomas, 24, of Wilkes-Barre, was arrested Oct. 5 outside the Luzerne County Courthouse ahead of a scheduled appearance to lift a bench warrant on theft charges. Thomas&#8217; arrest papers were placed under seal following a court order issued the same day.</p><p>Details of the mid-afternoon arrest remained scarce for days, but documents filed Oct. 17 by Thomas&#8217; attorney confirmed authorities believe Thomas to be a suspect in the <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/583692/man-killed-in-north-sherman-street-shooting-identified" target="_blank">fatal North Sherman Street shooting of 23-year-old Irvando Crooks</a> last month.</p><p>Price argued during the hearing the documents were sealed without input from the defendant. Price also argued access to the documents were critical in preparation for the preliminary hearing.</p><p>&#8220;In order for the defendant to meaningfully prepare to negate any evidence that the commonwealth will produce against him &#8230; we need to know what that evidence is,&#8221; Price said.</p><p>Members of both sides also argued about Rule 513.1 in the state code, which states prosecutors have a right to file a motion to seal documents if needed until the day of the preliminary hearing, or 30 days.</p><p>Prosecutors, who had said the documents were sealed to protect witnesses in the case, maintained they would turn over the paperwork the day of the hearing.</p><p>Prosecutor Tony Ross argued releasing the documents early could set a &#8220;dangerous precedent,&#8221; but it was established the rule in question was new and without precedential guidance.</p><p>Gartley ordered the documents be released to Price by 1 p.m. Wednesday, giving Price almost exactly 24 hours to review them before the preliminary hearing.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s better than if we got them right before the hearing,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s going to be a long night.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">A Luzerne County judge ruled Wednesday that unsealed documents be released strictly to the attorney of Tevon Thomas, who is charged with homicide. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_web1_TTL101416TyvonThomas-6.jpg</photo0><caption0>A Luzerne County judge ruled Wednesday that unsealed documents be released strictly to the attorney of Tevon Thomas, who is charged with homicide. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County judge orders limited release of sealed documents in homicide case