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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: Joe Perilli, Esquire
Legal Secretary III: Sheila Rehrig, Marcy Hunsicker
Phone: (570) 325-2343
Fax: (570) 325-5031
E-Mail: ccpdofc@ptd.net
The Carbon County Commissioners appointed Gregory L. Mousseau Chief Public Defender in Feb of 2002 and hired William Schwab in February of 2002. The office moved from the second floor to the first floor of the Courthouse in April 2002.
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 as of 2001
|
Poverty |
Month |
Week |
Since 1982 |
2001 Increase |
|
8,590 |
716 |
179 |
690 |
26 |
|
11,610 |
968 |
242 |
925 |
43 |
|
14,630 |
1,219 |
305 |
1,160 |
59 |
|
17,650 |
1,470 |
368 |
1,396 |
74 |
|
20,670 |
1,723 |
430 |
1,631 |
92 |
|
23,690 |
1,975 |
494 |
1,867 |
108 |
|
26,710 |
2,225 |
556 |
2,102 |
123 |
|
29,730 |
2,478 |
620 |
2,338 |
140 |
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.
|
Year |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
|
Criminal/JV Complaints Filed |
876 |
989 |
961 |
1,052 |
|
Public Defender’s Office Appointments |
444 |
501 |
523 |
480 |
|
PD’s % of Total Criminal Cases |
50% |
50% |
54% |
46% |
In 1999 adult defendants and juvenile defendants represented by Public Defenders were up to 46% of the total criminal caseload.
|
Year |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
|
Court Appointed Conflict Counsel |
76 |
62 |
36 |
80 |
|
% of Total Criminal Cases |
8% |
6% |
8% |
10% |
|
Conflict Counsel Costs |
$36,064 |
$18,378 |
$49,958 |
$100,535 |
When conflicts arise in representing criminal defendants at both the District Justice and Common Pleas level, the Court, upon petition, appoints conflict counsel. The Court appointed a three-year average of 75 conflict counsel with an approximate cost to the County of $56,300. 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.
During 1999, the office received 730 applications for representation in criminal and juvenile cases. Of these, 480 were approved, 170 were denied and 80 cases were conflicted out. Of those approved, 81 were juveniles.