AG Kane's Aide Sentenced To Several Months In Prison
By Jim Melwert
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- The man once described as Kathleen Kane's closest confidante has been sentenced to prison time for violating a judge's protective order.
Patrick Reese was found guilty in December of indirect criminal contempt for searching a database in the attorney general's office for information regarding the grand jury investigation into Attorney General Kathleen Kane.
Judge William Carpenter, handing down a sentence of 3-6 months in prison and a $1,000 fine, said punishment for violating his protective order must be swift and severe.
Prosecutor Thomas McGoldrick says, "The crime was of a very serious nature. I mean you're talking about invading grand jury secrecy in one of the most important cases in recent memory."
Reese is free on bail pending an appeal.
His attorney maintains Reese was never served with the protective order, and was searching the database to try to determine if leaks to the to the press were coming from inside the office.
