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March 15, 2010

Pair charged with intimidating witnesses

Two city residents have been charged with intimidating witnesses in the case of a police officer charged with sexual assault.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office filed the charges Thursday against 20-year-old Robert Alex Bogdan and 35-year-old Billie D. Esposito, both of 509 Whippo St.

Bogdan and Esposito were arraigned in Mercer County before District Judge Ronald E. Antos on three counts of intimidation of witnesses or victims, along with one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of hindering apprehension or prosecution. All are third-degree felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

The two also are charged with one count each of obstructing the administration of law, a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Attorney General Tom Corbett said Bogdan and Esposito allegedly threatened, intimidated and/or attempted to bribe victims who are scheduled to testify at a trial Monday for Richard Corbin, a New Castle police officer accused of sexually assaulting two teenage girls in 2008. Bogdan is the nephew of Corbin’s wife, and Esposito is Bogdan’s live-in girlfriend, according to the attorney general’s office.

“Efforts to bully, intimidate or bribe witnesses and victims is a threat to those individuals and also a direct threat to our entire criminal justice system,” Corbett said. “Our office will deal quickly and firmly with anyone who attempts to tamper with investigations, short-circuit the court system or pressure people who step forward to testify in criminal cases.”

According to the criminal complaint, both Bogdan and Esposito appeared Tuesday at the Hermitage home of one of the alleged victims, demanding that the girl write a statement indicating the sexual assaults never took place, while also frightening and intimidating her.

Additionally, the complaint says, Bogdan allegedly offered to pay the girl $4,000 and asked her to “beat up” another alleged victim who also is scheduled to testify during Corbin’s trial.

Corbett said that Bogdan and Esposito allegedly visited the same girl again Wednesday, attempting to get her to leave with them. During that visit, Bogdan and Esposito allegedly traveled in Corbin’s Jeep. The alleged victim, who feared for her safety, refused to accompany them.

Bogdan and Esposito both were taken into custody in Lawrence County.

Esposito was lodged in the Mercer County jail in lieu of $75,000 bond. Her preliminary is set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Bogdan was lodged in the Lawrence County jail on a $50,000 bond set after he was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Melissa A. Amodie on related charges filed by New Castle police. Those charges, Corbett said, involve another individual connected to the case.

They include two felony counts of intimidation of a witness/victim, two misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats and two misdemeanor counts of obstructing administration of law. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Additionally, Corbett said, Esposito’s juvenile daughter has been charged by New Castle police with similar offenses.

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