Solicitor says accused official may retain seat during court process
LOWER TYRONE TWP. – A Lower Tyrone Township supervisor recently charged by state police with having marijuana plants on his property can remain in the position until a judge or jury determines his guilt or innocence, according to the township solicitor. Last month, township supervisors Chairman George M. Gillespie, 50, was charged by Fayette County Drug Task Force Lt. Kyle W. Sneddon with possession of marijuana and possession with intent to deliver marijuana after a raid allegedly revealed 19 plants were growing on his Gillespie Road farm.
He was arraigned on the charges May 22 before Magisterial District Judge Dwight Shaner and released on a $5,000 unsecured bond. A preliminary hearing date has not been scheduled.
“He is innocent until he is proven guilty,” said township solicitor Richard Husband. “Until the issue is resolved, Mr. Gillespie can continue to serve in his elected position.”
Husband said that he had spoken to Gillespie about the matter, but declined to divulge details of the conversation.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Sneddon, the plants were located during a surveillance of the region by a U.S. Army National Guard helicopter being used in conjunction with an investigation by the drug task force and state police.
Sneddon said the plants were seized during a raid Sept. 17 at Gillespie’s residence. The state police crime laboratory has determined they were marijuana plants.
Gillespie could not be reached for comment.
Supervisors Ken Frye and Sean Ferris serve on the board with Gillespie. Frye declined to comment and Ferris did not return a message left at his home seeking comment.
Last year, former supervisor and board chairman Ernie Walters resigned after he was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol in Westmoreland County and charged with the same offense later in Fayette County.
Frye was named to replace him.
According to township records, meanwhile, Gillespie is a road master and works only on an as-needed basis.
Township auditor Luke Knapp said he was “disappointed” to learn that charges had been filed against a second township supervisor in less than a year.
“This gives us two black eyes, now,” he said.
While acknowledging that Gillespie has yet to be heard by a judge, Knapp said that he believes the supervisor should resign.
“He’s supposed to be representing the township and he can’t do that very well when he has these kind of charges against him,” said Knapp.
The township supervisors will meet June 11 at Brownfield Community Center.
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