Nypavers testify in trial
A Uniontown woman testified Tuesday that drug addiction led her to file fraudulent unemployment claims on her husband’s behalf, and he knew nothing about it.
Lisa Nypaver, 42, testified that the husband from whom she is now separated, Myron Nypaver, 46, knew “nothing” about her continuing to sign up for unemployment in his name after he was called back to work as Uniontown fire chief on March 6, 2010.
Before her husband went back to work, Lisa Nypaver testified, he bent the debit card used for unemployment compensation and threw it away. She testified she waited until he left for work, and then took it out of the trash. Because she knew his Social Security number and the pin numbers associated with the card, Lisa Nypaver testified she was able to continue signing up for benefits.
Authorities allege she did so between March and November 2010.
Myron Nypaver testified under questioning from his attorney, Michael DeRiso, that he did not know what his wife did. When he found out there was an investigation into allegedly fraudulent claims, he testified he was “irate.”
“I looked at my wife and I said, ‘If you did something wrong, I’m not taking the heat for you,'” he testified.
Although arresting officer Detective Steven Kontaxes testified that Myron Nypaver told him he signed up for the unemployment, Nypaver testified he did not mean that he signed up for any of the fraudulent claims.
“I knew nothing about them,” Myron Nypaver testified.
In the afternoon, more than three dozen character witnesses — firemen, attorneys, police, teachers, township supervisors and others — stood ready to attest to Myron Nypaver’s good reputation for truthfulness and honesty in the community.
Eight of them came into to offer testimony, and DeRiso, Assistant District Attorney Gene Grimm and Lisa Nypaver’s attorney, Mark Mehalov, stipulated that another 24 would testify similarly.
One character witness, Scott LaClair of Uniontown, said Myron Nypaver is being prosecuted out of “political retribution” by Uniontown city officials.
“His life, his whole being, was the Uniontown Fire Department. There is nothing that man would do to disgrace the fire department,” said LaClair, who has known Nypaver for 30 years.
LaClair said he staunchly believes in Myron Nypaver’s innocence.
“If there was some way I could wager everything I have, everything I’ve acquired in 52 years, I’d do it for this man,” he said.
DeRiso, in his closing, asked jurors to acquit Myron Nypaver of all charges. Mehalov asked jurors to acquit Lisa Nypaver of conspiracy to commit theft, but acknowledged that she was guilty of theft in the matter.
Grimm asked jurors to convict both on all charges, alleging both knew they were illegally taking unemployment compensation.
Judge Steve P. Leskinen will instruct the jury on the law this morning before they begin deliberating.