Former Beaver Co. DA Candidate: I'm Being Punished For Being A Whistleblower
BEAVER (KDKA) – It's a complicated tale of political intrigue and Monday two Beaver County employees – a former candidate for District Attorney and his client – have been charged in connection with it.
But it's not the outcome the former candidate was expecting.
"I am being punished for basically being a whistleblower," said attorney Gerald Benyo.
Benyo says he blew the whistle, trying to get someone to investigate whether he was being set up by his opponent in a race for district attorney, Assistant DA Frank Martocci.
State Police investigated, but instead charged Benyo.
"I believe this is mostly political and I believe this is also mostly vindictive," said Benyo.
The twisted and complicated tale involved Benyo's client, Kenji Barnett, whose son was facing drug charges. Benyo alleged that Martocci tried to have Barnett try to sell him drugs in order to smear him.
This is after Barnett tried to enter the courthouse with brass knuckles and mace. The items were returned to her without charges. Benyo suggests because Marotucci wanted Barnett to participate in the scheme to set him up.
But State Police Lt. Eric Hemrick said the investigation did not substantiate the claims.
"We looked into the allegations from the criminal aspect and we did not discover any criminal misconduct," said Hemrick.
Instead, police have charged two courthouse employees: Deputy Sheriff Erica Bacon and Public Defender employee Dionna Steele with allegedly returning the confiscated weapons.
Barnett is charged with illegally recording a phone conversation and Benyo with providing documents of that illegal recording in court.
"He's claiming political retribution," said Hemrick. "He's the one who disseminated the information in open court."
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