A Fallowfield Township teenager awaiting trial in the 2002 murder of his adoptive mother has a new attorney.
John Frank Gebauer, who will turn 18 on Aug. 31, is now being represented by Charleroi attorney Dennis Paluso.
Paluso said this week that he was retained March 3 and entered an appearance before Washington County Judge Katherine B. Emery.
Gebauer had been represented by Washington County Deputy Public Defender Thomas Cooke since his Feb. 14, 2002, arrest in the murder of Alison Logan Gebauer, 47.
She was killed the previous day at the family's Fallowfield Township farm. Gebauer was 15 at the time of his arrest.
Because of attorney-client confidentiality, Paluso declined to say who retained him.
"But I can say that I haven't spoken to his adoptive father," Paluso said of Ed Gebauer.
Ed Gebauer was out of town on business when John Gebauer allegedly sneaked up behind the victim and shot her. Prosecutors contend he also raped her, although it remains unclear whether the sexual assault occurred before or after the murder.
The youth is awaiting trial on charges of criminal homicide, possession of firearms by a minor, abuse of a corpse, rape and attempted rape. Emery ruled last year that John Gebauer will be tried as an adult.
Ed Gebauer has refused to aid in his son's defense.
Since John Gebauer's arrest, he has undergone numerous psychiatric examinations, which were requested by both the public defender's and district attorney's offices.
Paluso is taking on a client who was charged nearly two years ago and is expected to go on trial in June.
Paluso requested a delay for today's evidence suppression hearing before Emery. It was based on a Cooke motion to throw out evidence, including statements made by Gebauer and items collected at the crime scene.
Paluso said "it's too early" to make a decision yet on his readiness for a June trial.
News that Gebauer now has a private attorney surprised Washington County District Attorney John C. Pettit.
"My guess is that he is using money from his trust fund to pay for counsel," Pettit said of the teenager.
Gebauer's biological mother died when he was 7. Alison Gebauer placed the youth's Social Security benefits in an account.
In April 2002, with about $14,800 in the account, Ed Gebauer withdrew a request to use $9,000 to pay for his wife's burial expenses. Under Social Security laws, the money could not be used for that purpose.
John Gebauer had been in and out of foster homes until the Gebauers adopted him in 1999.
Cooke has "put a lot of time and effort" into preparing John Gebauer's defense, Pettit said.
"I would imagine he's (Cooke) pretty surprised, too," he said.
Cooke was not available for comment.
Gebauer is still in a single cell, in the general population, at the Washington County Correctional Facility, where he has marked his 16th and 17th birthdays.
Warden Joseph Pelzer said Gebauer earned his general equivalency diploma in August and has "adjusted" well to life behind bars.
Stacy Wolford can be reached at swolford@tribweb.com or 724-684-2640.
