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Chief Public Defender: Gregory L. Mousseau, Esquire
First Assistant Public Defender: George T. Dydynsky,
Esquire
Assistant Public Defender: Paul J. Levy, Esquire
Assistant Public Defender: Joseph Perilli, Esquire
Legal Secretary III: Sheila Rehrig
Phone: (570) 325-2343
Fax: (570) 325-5031
E-Mail: ccpdofc@ptd.net
The office is located on the first floor of the Courthouse.
The Office of Public Defender provides legal representation to adults and juveniles who are charged with a crime and are unable to afford private counsel. Eligibility is based on indigency standards established by the Health and Human Services.
Poverty Guidelines
Gross Income
|
Family |
Yearly |
Monthly |
Weekly |
|
1 |
11,952 |
996 |
230 |
|
2 |
16,020 |
1,335 |
308 |
|
3 |
29,088 |
1,674 |
386 |
|
4 |
24,168 |
2,014 |
465 |
|
5 |
28,236 |
2,353 |
543 |
|
6 |
32,304 |
2,692 |
621 |
|
Each Additional Defendant |
4,068 |
339 |
78 |
Representation by a Public Defender is determined
on a case by case basis. It can begin from the time of arrest and continue
through the final appeal phases in many criminal actions.
PUBLIC DEFENDER APPOINTMENT RATE AND CASELOAD
Year Total Misdemeanor/Felony
Complaints Criminal/** Juvenile
Complaints Filed Public Defender Appointments*** % of PD Appointments over
Criminal/Juvenile Complaints 2007 1,298 1,371 971 71% 2008 2009 1,134 1,105 1,290 1,118 885 696 69% 62% 3-Year Average 1,178 1,260 851 67% Year Court Appointed Conflict Counsel % of Total Misdemeanor /
Felony Complaints Conflict Counsel Costs 2007 2008 2009 74 113 120 5.7% 10% 10.9% $48,344 $71,550 $65,747 3-Year Average 102 8.9% $61,880
When conflicts arise in representing criminal defendants at both the District Justice and Common Pleas level, the Court, upon petition, appoints conflict counsel. Lawrence Beck, Esquire, David Bennett, Esquire, Brian Collins, Esquire, Mark Combi, Esquire, Cynthia Dydra, Esquire, Michael Muffley, Esquire, Cynthia Ray, Esquire, Gerald Strubinger, Esquire, and Kent Watkins, Esquire all served as conflict counsel.