Delco DA Candidate Demands New Sentencing For Petition Forger

MEDIA, Pa. (CBS) - The Democratic candidate for district attorney of Delaware County is calling on the Pennsylvania state attorney general to resentence a Republican operative who admitted last week that he forged signatures on nominating petitions in last year's federal congressional election.

Kendall Brown (in photo) wants the state attorney general to resentence Paul Summers of Drexel Hill, Pa., who pleaded guilty to forging signatures on petitions for congressional candidate Patrick Meehan last year.  Meehan, who won the election, immediately notified authorities when he learned of the forgeries.

Summers was sentenced to two years' probation and fined $1,400.

Brown says the victims whose identities were stolen were not notified that Summers was appearing in court -- an oversight that she says goes against Pennsylvania state law.

She is also questioning the investigation.

"It doesn't take an experienced prosecutor to suspect at least that there were more people involved with this, yet no one else was charged with perjury, no one else was charged with forgery, no one else was charged with anything," she said today.

Brown is asking for an opportunity for the victims to have their say in court.  She says there were hundreds of signatures in question but Summers only pleaded guilty to seven counts each of forgery and false signatures.

Rep. Meehan asked for the investigation and was not charged in the case.

Reported by Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio 1060