Judge Throws Out Evidence Against Wecht

Evidence collected by FBI agents that is key to the 14 remaining fraud and theft charges against former Allegheny County Coroner Dr. Cycril Wecht, is being thrown out by U.S. District Judge Sean McLaughlin. He says the search warrants they used were unconstitutional and is excluding more than 20 boxes of evidence taken in 2005 from Wecht's office, as well as evidence from a laptop used by one of his secretaries. Wecht is charged with using his public office for private gain, and his attorney Jerry McDevitt says he cannot see the case being pursued very much further.
U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan will make a recommendation on whether to continue the case, but the decision is up to the U.S. solicitor general.