Fiore’s family shows support for his release

William Fiore's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren packed into an Allegheny County courtroom Thursday afternoon to see the former landfill operator try to win his freedom after nearly 14 years behind bars.

They'll have to wait a little longer.

After a 40-minute closed-door meeting in chambers with attorneys, Judge Raymond Novak deferred a decision until Aug. 21 on whether to shorten Fiore's seven-to-14-year sentence for bribery, perjury and operating a landfill without a license.

'We really wanted to have him out today. It's difficult to tell a nearly 76-year-old man who has already spent 14 years in prison that he has to wait another week and a half,' said Fiore lawyer Chris Eyster.

Fiore, 75, formerly of Elizabeth, Allegheny County, wants to shave nearly five months from his 1987 sentence in Allegheny County. The sentence is due to expire on Dec. 27.

The move to reduce his sentence comes on the heels of a 2-1 Superior Court decision last month that overturned Fiore's 1993 conviction in Westmoreland County for an unrelated charge of orchestrating a failed murder-for-hire plot against a state environmental official in 1985. The appeals court ordered a new trial for Fiore and in doing so vacated his five-to-10 year sentence for that conviction.

Because the Westmoreland County sentence was to run consecutive to the prison term imposed for the Allegheny County conviction, he never served any time of the now aborted five-to-10-year term. All 13-plus years Fiore has spent in prison since 1987 have been for the Allegheny County conviction.

Last week, Westmoreland County Judge Debra Pezze agreed to Fiore's request that he be released on bail while he awaits his third trial on the solicitation to commit murder charge. Fiore posted a $200,000 property bond on Tuesday.

Only the time left on his Allegheny County sentence is keeping Fiore behind bars.

'We feel confident we're going to prevail here. He's already served 13 &*#189; years in this sentence. We felt because he got a reversal in the Westmoreland County case, the court should reduce this sentence,' Eyster said.

Deputy Attorney General Robert A. Graci said he opposes modifying Fiore's sentence. Graci argued Fiore should remain in prison until the end of the year, when his term runs out. Only the state's parole board should approve Fiore's early release, Graci said.

Meanwhile, prosecutors are seeking to reinstate the Westmoreland County conviction. State attorneys filed notice asking the full nine-judge panel of the Superior Court to reconsider its decision. Officials anticipate a ruling later this month from the court on whether it will entertain the appeal.