State Sen. Robert Regola was acquitted of all charges Friday afternoon, ending the criminal prosecution that followed the July 2006 suicide of his 14-year-old neighbor. A Westmoreland County jury of six men and six women returned the not-guilty verdicts shortly before 4 p.m., following about 3 1/2 hours of deliberations and three days of testimony and arguments. Regola, 45, was charged with perjury, allowing a minor to possess a gun, reckless endangerment and false swearing. The first-term Republican lawmaker from Hempfield would have been thrown out of the Senate had he been convicted of the felony perjury or gun possession charges. "For the senator, it was a fight for his life, his career and his freedom. There was so much on the line for him," defense attorney Charles Porter said after the verdict was announced to a packed courtroom. The case centered on accusations that Regola lied during testimony he gave at a coroner's inquest investigating the death of Louis Farrell, whose family lives next door to the Regola family. The boy died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Coroner Kenneth Bacha ruled. Regola's 9mm Taurus handgun, found near the body, was used in the shooting. Regola testified at the inquest that the gun was kept in the master bedroom of his home, contradicting state police troopers who said the senator told them the gun was kept in the bedroom of his son, Robert "Bobby" Regola IV, who was then 16. When the jury foreman read the verdict, the senator's family, friends and supporters cheered, and hugs were exchanged between Regola and his lawyers. Regola, his wife, Janette, and son Bobby briskly left the courthouse, refusing to answer questions. A campaign staffer issued a prepared statement on Regola's behalf. "I am pleased that the jury in this case has acquitted me of all charges. I have said from the beginning of this political prosecution that I was innocent of the accusations against me, and today the jury agreed," the statement read. Regola also said he was disappointed that District John Peck brought the case, based on "unfounded charges." Throughout the trial, Regola's defense team suggested the charges against the senator were part of an agenda by Peck to restrict gun laws in Pennsylvania. Peck defended the prosecution of the case, but said he respected the jury's verdict. Farrell's body was discovered in the woods behind his home. Farrell had access to the Regola home to feed the family's dogs while the senator was accepting an award in Harrisburg. Peck said the case came down to Regola leaving his gun where a juvenile had access to it. "We made no effort to send a message to people about gun laws or (to) the Legislature about gun laws," Peck said. Bobby Regola was found guilty of misdemeanor gun possession in juvenile court. Regola, now 18, was sentenced to one year on probation. Peck said he anticipates no further criminal prosecutions. But the acquittal may not end the legal battles in connection with Farrell's death. Farrell family attorney Jon Perry said yesterday a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court is being considered and a decision on that could come early next week. The Farrell family last year filed court documents in preparation of another lawsuit that challenges the coroner's determination that their son's death was a suicide. Perry said a civil case would allow him to question under oath the senator, his wife and son about what they know about Louis Farrell's death. Bobby Regola, according to court testimony, was the last person to speak with Farrell before his death. Doug Farrell, Louis' father, declined to discuss the verdict yesterday. "I want to thank the many members of the community who took time away from their hardships to comfort my family in our time of hardship," Farrell said in a statement. The defense case focused on convincing jurors that Regola was the target of a district attorney who was out to rewrite gun laws in Pennsylvania. Porter said prosecution witnesses were lying when they testified the gun used by Farrell was a Christmas gift for Bobby Regola in 2003 and that the teen showed off the weapon to his neighbor sometime in 2004. "They want you to convict Sen. Regola based on things that were lawful," Porter told jurors. "If it is reckless to keep a gun unloaded in a case, under a bed, how can you ever have a gun in your house• If this is reckless none of you can possess a gun." In his closing argument to jurors, Peck said Regola attempted to subvert an investigation into the cause and manner of Farrell's death.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---