TOWANDA (NY)
Daily and Sunday Review
By: Aaron Cahall 11/16/2005
TOWANDA - A mistrial was declared Tuesday in the case of a Milan pastor accused of sexually abusing a female parishioner, after prosecutors said the defense claimed inadmissible evidence in their opening statement.
Bradford County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jeffery Smith granted the prosecution's motion for a mistrial, "based on things said in the defense's opening statement that would not be admissible in court," according to Bradford County First Assistant District Attorney Albert Ondrey.
Ondrey declined to elaborate, adding only "things were claimed as evidence that would not be admissible." Smith and Arthur Agnellino, cited in court documents as attorney for the accused, did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.