Six of seven Fayette Judges recuse themselves from Vicites attempted homicide case

Six of the seven Fayette County Judges have recused themselves from presiding over the case of Deanna Vicites, who allegedly shot her husband, Fayette County Commissioner Vincent Vicites.
On Sept. 7, Deanna Vicites’ attorney, Doug Sepic, filed a motion in Fayette County Common Pleas Court for its seven judges to disqualify themselves from the upcoming trial because of their connection or perceived connection to Vincent Vicites.
In his motion, Sepic states that Vincent Vicites’ long history with the county, his terms as a Fayette County Commissioner and the fact he serves on county boards could raise an appearance of impropriety and erode public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary.
On Sept. 9, President Judge John Wagner filed an order, recusing himself from the case.
“As President Judge, I am required to deal directly with the County Commissioners on a myriad of issues which might create an appearance of impropriety,” Wagner states in the order.
Also on Sept. 9, Judge Steve Leskinen recused himself, citing he’s personally acquainted with both parties in the matter.
On Sept. 12, Senior Judge Conrad Capuzzi recused himself because he has been personally acquainted with Vincent Vicites for a number of years, and Judge Joseph George Jr. recused himself because of being well acquainted with Vincent Vicites for the past 20 years.
On Sept. 13, Judge Nancy Vernon recused herself from the case, stating she’s a personal friend to both parties and even campaigned with Vincent Vicites during three terms when she ran for election as the county’s district attorney; Judge Linda Cordaro also recused herself from the matter because she states in her order she is acquainted with at least one of the parties involved.
An order in the matter was not yet filed by Senior Judge Gerald Solomon.
In the early morning hours of July 17, Deanna Vicites allegedly shot Vincent Vicites in the neck in their South Union Township home.
She is lodged in the Greene County Prison on $250,000 bond and is awaiting a pre-trial conference Monday.
After spending nearly three weeks in the hospital, Vincent Vicites returned to his duties as commissioner in August.