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first time in KucksL. S^hampton constable removed from officeBy LORETTA HEARN Courier Times Staff WriterLower Southampton Constable Frank Ferguson, who was accused of illegally withholding traffic violation fees, was ousted from office today by order of the Bucks County Court.It marked the first time in Bucks County history that a constable has been removed for illegal acts in office.Judge Isaac S. Garb handed down an opinion yesterday afternoon directing that Ferguson cease his official duties as constableDistrict Attorney Kenneth G.wBiehn in January petitioned the court to remove Ferguson from office for alleged acts of malfeasance and misfeasance.Prosecuted CaseAccording to Assistant District Attorney John B Lampi, who prosecuted the case, Ferguson can appeal the decision to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania However, it is left to the discretion ofthe higher court to hear the appeal.Bucks Countv Criminal DivisionT wsent a letter to Ferguson this morning notifying him that he must turn in his badge to the office by July 25 Lampi said that Ferguson's four deputies, including his wife, must also leave office.Citing an act from the 1930s for removal of deputies, Lampi said. “We are using this act more and more as a policing measure for constables ”The assistant district attorney added. “It was our goal to have him removed from office ’ Lampi indicated the district attorney’s office wall not prosecute Ferguson on criminal counts.In order to collect money owed to the county by the constable, Lampi said it would be up to the County of Bucks to file a civil suit against Ferguson “We feel it is not our position to recover the money, Lampi saidIn two hearings before Judge Garb since January, Fergusonadmitted under oath he kept money collected in partial payments from a Feasterville man ^ charged with traffic violations on the district levelThe constable was collecting payments from Jeffrey Funari of 1303 Bustleton Pike by order of warrants issued by District Justices Daniel J Lawler and Dominick Spadaccino.Property LiensIn two other cases involving property liens Ferguson was accused of charging the county for more than one lien on a single property.In one matter, Ferguson visited the home of Stephen Halphern, who listed an address of 1823 Cynthia Lane. At that time he put a lien on a car in the driveway for money owed by the defendant The constable later found out that the car did not belong to the accused But he admitted he did not report the bum levy.’’Ferguson could not be reached this morning for comment on the court order ousting him
Newspaper Details
Bucks County Courier Times
Levittown, Pennsylvania, US
Thu, Jul 17, 1975
Page 50
Full Page
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USA 08 Jun 2019
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