Names of John Does revealed
Two Fayette County physicians have been identified as the men whose names were shielded from the public in the prostitution case of former Commissioner Susanne Teslovich.
The Tribune-Review learned from various sources that they are Dr. Charles Robert Calabrese Jr., 43, and his partner, Dr. Frederick William Ruthardt, 44, both of Uniontown.
Until now the physicians, who are represented by Attorney Samuel J. Davis, have been identified publicly only as John Doe No. 1 and John Doe No. 2. The Tribune-Review learned from independent sources that Calabrese is John Doe No. 1, while Ruthardt is John Doe No. 2.
Over objections from the Tribune-Review, Judge Gerald R. Solomon last year ruled that the identities of the two men should be shielded from public view. He ordered that their names be blacked out on all documents made public in the Teslovich case.
The Tribune-Review appealed Solomon's ruling to the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Arguments were heard by a panel of the appeals court Wednesday, with a decision expected in the next few weeks.
Yale Gutnick, vice president and general counsel to the Tribune-Review Publishing Co., says the newspaper fought the case in court because of its "supreme importance to all citizens of the state."
"The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. has pursued this case in the most aggressive manner because we believe the actions taken by the judiciary in Fayette County are offensive to the First Amendment and the public's right to know," said Gutnick.
"Critically, the judiciary in Fayette County has created a privileged class for the two physicians whose names were barred from disclosure while permitting more than 100 other names to be revealed. We believe this directly contradicts the Constitution and is inherently unfair."
Teslovich, 55, of Menallen Township, last week was found guilty of running a prostitution ring - the First Class Entertainment Service - from August 1999 until her March 2000 arrest. A two-term county commissioner, she faces sentencing Jan. 4 before Judge John F. Wagner Jr.
After a four-day trial, jurors determined Teslovich ran a prostitution operation, encouraged another person to become or remain a prostitute, solicited a person to patronize a prostitute, obtained a prostitute for a patron and received money from prostitution activities.
Defense attorney Jack Connor said he has not determined whether his client's conviction will be appealed.
The names of Calabrese and Ruthardt appeared among hundreds of other names in a log of phone calls placed to Teslovich's escort business. Last year, the names of all the others on the list were made public when District Attorney Nancy Vernon filed the phone log with the clerk of courts.
Because their names were blacked out from the list of calls, as well as from police reports and other case documents, there is no way to differentiate in those documents between references to Calabrese and references to Ruthardt.
Calabrese and Ruthardt were unavailable for comment Friday, according to an employee who answered repeated calls to their medical practice, Southwestern Gastrointestinal Specialists, at 300 Spring Creek Lane, Uniontown.
The Tribune-Review learned the names last year from various confidential sources. The newspaper did not print them until now because of various concerns, including the possible effect publication could have had on the trial of the Teslovich case.
"We've known these names for some time," said Tribune-Review Editor Tom Stewart. "I've had their photos in my desk drawer for months."
Stewart cautioned that no conclusions can be drawn from the appearance of any name on the phone log, including these two names.
"As we said when the phone log was first released and we printed it, the calls logged could be the result of misdials or other perfectly innocent communications. The names listed apparently were what showed up on Caller ID, so they're not necessarily the name of the person who placed the call," he added.
Public reference to a physician allegedly involved in the case first surfaced at Teslovich's preliminary hearing on June 23, 2000, before District Justice Lawrence Blair in Uniontown.
A prostitute testified that a physician whom she identified as "Dr. Chuck," used cocaine during a late-night encounter with her at his medical office.
Escort service employee Sabina M. Park testified that the doctor drove a silver BMW and paid her $150. She said he used cocaine in front of her and wanted her to watch him perform a sex act.
"He asked me to do coke with him. I wouldn't do it. So he got a little upset about that. And he wanted me to watch him ... I did watch him ... but he wasn't too happy," Park testified.
A police report filed in the case states that a state police investigator interviewed one of the John Does - the name is blacked out on the document - and questioned him about Park's allegations.
The investigator said the physician initially told him that calls could have been made by his cousin, who resembles him and had access to his BMW and office. Later, he admitted lying.
"Let me come clean with you. I'm very nervous. Forgive me for lying with you. I did make several calls there. I met with her after hours at my office," said the physician, who denied using drugs.
He said he did not know the woman was a prostitute. He told police he thought she was an entertainer that he was considering hiring for an upcoming party.
Tribune-Review Attorney Ronald D. Barber argued before the Superior Court last week that no less than four entries on the phone log refer to one or the other of the John Does.
Barber told the Superior Court that one of the John Does admits calling the service several times to arrange a meeting with an escort service employee, meeting with her late at night at his office, paying her and lying to the police about it.
Last week, Davis asserted in a conversation in Wagner's chambers that John Doe No. 2 - Ruthardt - did not make any calls and did not know who placed a call from his phone, according to Barber.
Calabrese is an osteopathic physician and surgeon, while Ruthardt is a medical physician and surgeon, according to state records and information listed on the Web site of the American Medical Association.
Records show the physicians - who practice at the Uniontown Hospital in Uniontown, Brownsville General Hospital in Brownsville, Frick Hospital in Mt. Pleasant and Highlands Hospital in Connellsville - also share offices in Brownsville, Connellsville and Smithfield.
Calabrese has been licensed to practice medicine in Pennsylvania since Aug. 11, 1987, according to records on file with Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs.
Records show the status of his medical license is active and in good standing, with no disciplinary actions listed. It was last renewed on Aug. 11, 2000, and does not expire until Oct. 31, 2002.
Calabrese graduated in 1986 from the University of Health Science, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Mo., according to information listed on the Web sites of the Uniontown Hospital and the American Medical Association.
AMA records show Calabrese completed an internship and residency training in gastroenterology and internal medicine at UPMC Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, according to the AMA. The Uniontown Hospital Web site indicates he is also board certified in gastroenterology.
He is a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, Fayette County Medical Society, American Medical Association, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, American College of Gastroenterology and the American College of Physicians.
Ruthardt was licensed to practice medicine in Pennsylvania on Aug. 21, 1984, according to state records. His license status is active and in good standing, with no disciplinary actions listed. It was last renewed on Oct. 20, 2000, and does not expire until Dec. 31, 2002.
Ruthardt graduated in 1983 from the Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia, according to hospital and AMA records. He completed an internship at the Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh, where he also completed residency training in internal medicine. He also completed residency training in gastroenterology at the University Health Center of Pittsburgh.
He is certified in gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine, according to the AMA. Information listed by the Uniontown Hospital indicates he is also board certified in internal medicine.
Ruthardt is a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
