Ex-Pa. lawmaker gets ARD program in assault case
SCRANTON – A former northeastern Pennsylvania state lawmaker has been accepted into a court-sanctioned rehabilitation program, avoiding a jury trial on charges that he assaulted his estranged wife and her friend last summer.
The (Scranton) Times-Tribune says Kevin Murphy, facing simple assault and harassment charges, agreed Wednesday in Lackawanna County Court to accept a prosecutor’s offer to participate in a probationary Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program.
Police alleged that the former two-term Democratic lawmaker slapped his wife July 20 in Scranton and then punched her male friend and put him in a choke hold. His attorney said he hadn’t assaulted his wife and was defending himself against the man.
The ARD program doesn’t require a guilty plea and will allow Murphy’s record to be expunged if he successfully completes his probation.