Government ends case against ex-cop
The federal government Wednesday closed its witness-tampering case against former Plum police officer Ryan Schneiderlochner, then came tears and testimony against the star witness.
Schneiderlochner, 34, sobbed with his face in his hands as his wife, Gina, described the hurt and then the reconciliation after her husband had an affair in 2001 with Nicole Olbrish -- whom prosecutors say Schneiderlochner harassed in an effort to keep her from cooperating in a federal investigation of him and the Plum Police Department.
"I'm a caring person, and I love him," an emotional Gina Schneiderlochner said. "I didn't want (our marriage) to end before it really began."
George O'Donnell, who runs a foundation for special needs children in Murrysville, Westmoreland County, also got emotional while describing the impact of Schneiderlochner's volunteer work and "the eyes of the children you see when Ryan comes around."
Kelly Morrow, 24, a paralegal from Plum, contradicted Olbrish's testimony from Tuesday that Schneiderlochner approached her repeatedly to discuss the FBI investigation. Morrow said she was talking to Schneiderlochner at a Monroeville bar in February 2005 when Olbrish arrived and peppered him with questions and concerns about having been approached by federal agents.
"She seemed very panicked at the time," Morrow said.
Prosecutors say Schneiderlochner harassed Olbrish from February through August 2005 by approaching her to discuss the investigation and by making a secret videotape of her and Monroeville police officer Larry Storch.
Private detective George Galovich Jr., a government witness, told jurors Schneiderlochner asked him to make a videotape of Olbrish and Storch, "showing they had a relationship."
When Schneiderlochner didn't hire him, Galovich -- a former Baldwin Borough police officer convicted of stealing evidence money -- went to federal investigators.
Plum police Chief Robert Payne also testified yesterday, saying he was not aware Schneiderlochner was investigating Storch for being out of his jurisdiction while on duty and that the investigation included a federal witness.
"I have a real problem with a Plum police officer filming a Plum resident for no apparent reason," Payne said.
Schneiderlochner recorded Storch at Olbrish's house and spending time with her while she worked at Dunkin' Donuts in July 2005. He turned the tape over to Monroeville police, who suspended Storch for misconduct.
Testimony is expected to finish today. Schneiderlochner faces a year in prison if convicted.
