Scandale waives right to preliminary hearing
Former Washington County Clerk of Courts Frank Scandale arrived at a magisterial district courtroom Wednesday morning and departed within a matter of minutes after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing.
Scandale, 52, of Canonsburg, faces nine counts, including theft, in connection with $96,000 missing from the Washington County row office.
Asked if he anticipated making any comment about his first court appearance since his Nov. 21 arraignment, he referred questions to his nearby attorney, Michael DeRiso, who immediately interjected, 鈥淗e has nothing to say, so please don鈥檛 ask him questions.鈥�
After signing paperwork related to the waiver, Scandale left alone carrying a document box. DeRiso said the next step in the case would be Scandale鈥檚 formal arraignment.
Deputy Attorney General Evan Lowry referred any inquires to his agency鈥檚 press office.
A member of the state police Organized Crime Task Force was on hand to testify about the case if needed, but he also exited the Washington office of District Judge Robert Redlinger.
In mid-July, Washington County Controller Michael Namie informed the county commissioners an audit revealed money missing from the clerk of courts office, which handles payments in criminal cases and for various criminal cases and other miscellaneous matters.
The commissioners turned Namie鈥檚 findings over to state police, whose investigation noted $50,534 in missing cash deposits in 2019 and $39,714 in missing checks, bringing the total to $96,716, charging documents indicated.
State police revealed when Scandale was charged that a Chicago-based firm conducted a forensic investigation into the financial records of the row office.
Scandale, a Democrat, was a candidate in the Nov. 5 election for a second, four-year term, but he lost to former Washington Mayor Brenda Davis, now a Republican.
She and fellow GOP row officers, who swept contested races in the election, had their first day on the job Monday.
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