Sen. Orie Waives Preliminary Hearing

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – State Sen. Jane Orie was scheduled to face a preliminary hearing Tuesday morning, but decided to waive it to trial.

According to her lawyer, they wanted to avoid a three-day preliminary hearing and are prepared to go to trial.

Jury selection for the trial will begin on Feb. 13.

Originally, the jury selection was to begin on Monday. However, since the forgery charges will now be part of the trial, the defense and prosecution needed time to file appropriate pretrial motions.

Last month, Sen. Orie was arrested and charged with 16 counts of forgery, perjury and tampering or fabricating evidence.

Sen. Orie allegedly submitted forged documents at her trial earlier this year. That proceeding ended in a mistrial.

The discovery of a forged signature on office documents led Judge Jeffery Manning to declare the mistrial in the original Orie case.

Sen. Orie and her sister, Janine, are also accused of illegally using the senator's office for campaign work.

Stay With KDKA.com For More Details

Featured Local Savings

More from CBS News

Charges dropped against seven people charged with breaking into abandoned Century III Mall

Mother of man accused of killing McKeesport police officer accused of violating gag order

Man facing multiple charges after gun found on his person inside Allegheny County Jail

Human remains found in Pittsburgh area identified as missing woman