Pasonick might have to testify

Local engineer Michael Pasonick may be called to testify at the corruption trial of an unidentified area official that is set to begin in February, according to a court motion filed Wednesday by his attorney.

Attorney Joseph Sklarosky Sr. filed a motion seeking to postpone Pasonick’s sentencing for his guilty plea to bribing a local school board member, which was scheduled for this month, until April 2012.

In the motion, Sklarosky noted Pasonick signed a plea agreement that requires him to cooperate in the investigation of others accused of wrongdoing. Pasonick testified in June at the trial of former Lackawanna County Commissioner Robert Cordaro, and has been advised he will likely be called as a witness in another corruption trial that is scheduled for February, Sklarosky said.

The motion does not identify the person on trial. The only known public official currently awaiting trial on a corruption related matter is former state Sen. Raphael Musto.

Musto’s trial was scheduled to begin on Nov. 1, but a court document filed last week noted that a case management conference has been called for that date, indicating the trial may be postponed.

Sklarosky is seeking to postpone Pasonick’s sentencing until after he testifies at the upcoming trial so that the judge can take his cooperation into consideration in deciding what sentence to impose.

Musto’s attorney, John Riley, did not return a phone message Wednesday.

Sklarosky could not be reached for comment.

Pasonick pleaded guilty in May to paying a bribe to an area school board member who promised to help Pasonick obtain future contracts with the district. Prosecutors have not identified the board member or the district involved.

Pasonick was originally scheduled to be sentenced today, but that was postponed pending a hearing on Sept. 14 to address objections to a pre-sentence investigation report. It was not clear Wednesday whether that hearing will be postponed.