JUDGE RECUSES HIMSELF FROM LATROBE LAWYER CASE

A Westmoreland County judge has recused himself from presiding over the case of a Latrobe lawyer accused of stealing money from a client.  The Trib reports that Judge Christopher Feliciani said there was a conflict of interest related to pending legal matters that involved an alleged  personal relationship between the accused, J. Allen Roth and a client and he reassigned the case to be heard by Judge Megan Billik Defazio.  Prosecutors say Roth stole over $30,000 from a jailed client. Prosecutors claim Roth and an employee gained access to the client’s bank account and withdrew funds he gambled with at a local casino.  Roth denies the allegations.