Dec 30, 2011 By Mark Scolforo, Associated Press 3 min read

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – The public corruption case against state Rep. Bill DeWeese remains on track for jury selection and opening statements in about a month, prosecutors and defense attorney said at a pretrial hearing last week.

The two sides were in court on Dec. 22 to argue over defense motions saying the case should be dismissed and an out-of-county jury brought in because of pretrial publicity.

Dauphin County Judge Todd Hoover did not immediately rule on the motions but said he was inclined to address the makeup of the jury if problems arise when the two sides begin picking the panel.

Bill Costopoulos, defense attorney for DeWeese, a Greene County Democrat and former House speaker and floor leader, told Hoover that prosecutors with the attorney general’s office had inaccurately summarized grand jury testimony at the preliminary hearing. Costopoulos called it egregious misconduct that merited dismissal or a near preliminary hearing.

“It’s called an honest presentation,” he told Hoover. “It didn’t happen.”

Prosecutor James P. Barker responded that both Costopoulos and the district judge were given access to the entire transcript at the hearing, and Barker told Hoover there was no legal basis for the defense argument. Prosecutors were not obliged to put on evidence, such as other parts of DeWeese’s grand jury testimony, that might help him, he said.

“This supposed egregious conduct basically happens at every preliminary hearing,” Barker said.

Another prosecutor, Ken Brown, argued that there was other evidence that would easily meet the relatively low standard required at preliminary hearings to send a case to county court for trial.

Costopoulos said DeWeese plans to put on an affirmative defense, rather than simply rely on an argument that prosecutors would not be able to prove their case.

“I really believe that we will present a case which will show that I am innocent,” DeWeese told reporters after the hearing.

Costopoulos declined to say whether DeWeese will testify.

“I don’t see anything derailing the case,” he said afterward. “I don’t see anything delaying the case.”

DeWeese, 61, is charged with conflict of interest, conspiracy and four counts of theft for what prosecutors say was the misuse of public resources for campaign purposes.

His co-defendant, former district aide Sharon Rodavich, did not join in the pretrial motions.

A message left on Dec. 22 seeking comment from her lawyer was not immediately returned.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Jan. 18, with opening statements a week later. Costopoulos told Hoover he expects the trial to take two to three weeks.