Judge Sentences Suspended Leetsdale Officer, Economy Man

A and involved in a drunken-driving crash in 2010 were sentenced today in Beaver County Court.

Beaver County Common Pleas Judge John McBride ordered Wayne Drish, 37, of , be placed on 18 months of probation served consecutively on charges of hindering apprehension or prosecution of another person and providing false statements to law enforcement. He must pay a $350 fine.

McBride also ordered Jason Ludovico, 32, of Economy, to serve two years with the first 90 days on an electronic monitoring bracelet followed by three years of probation for a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, his second offense in 10 years. He must pay a $1,500 fine.

The men must pay $2,062.50 each in restitution to the state police crime lab and are required to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and to complete any required treatment.

McBride said if Ludovico meets all conditions and has no violations after 30 months of supervision, the court will entertain a petition for early termination.

Neither of the men spoke before the sentencing. Both pleaded not guilty before a jury found them guilty during a joint trial in January.

Economy police said Ludovico’s VW Jetta ran a stop sign about 11:45 p.m. Aug. 1, 2010, and struck a utility pole, shortly after the two left Dave’s Tavern in Economy. Police said Ludovico's breathalyzer test resulted in a reading of 0.253 percent, more than triple the 0.08 limit at which a person is considered to be legally intoxicated in Pennsylvania.

Drish has that he was driving Ludovico home when, for unknown reasons, Ludovico jerked the steering wheel and caused the crash. Ludovico told police he doesn't remember if he was driving or not.

Prosecutors argued that forensic evidence showed Ludovico’s DNA matched the blood and hair samples found on the driver’s side of the windshield, while Drish’s DNA matched a beer can found on the passenger-side door wedged between the doorjamb and the seat.

Before sentencing, Ludovico’s attorney, James Ross, asked McBride to consider that Ludovico, a veteran, served his country substantially and has been truthful throughout court proceedings. Ross said Ludovico has a job and that his father, who has cancer, and was having an operation today, which is why his parents were not in the courtroom. He asked that Ludovico be placed on house arrest so that he can spend time with his mother.

Drish’s attorney, Stephen Colafella told McBride his client served faithfully as a police officer in Leetsdale and a second police department for 15 years, working also as a K-9 officer. Colafella said Drish has suffered enough, financially and emotionally, with all that has happened. He asked that Drish, who has no prior record, be able to serve probation.

“Everything that could be done to this gentleman by virtue of what has happened, things that have been written, comments that have been made…he’s suffered,” Colafella said.

Both attorneys asked the judge for time to file post-trial motions before their clients begin serving their sentences.

Assistant District Attorney Brittany Smith said she had no objections to the sentencing requests but asked that they go into effect today. She said the defendants have shown a “lack of remorse” although two witnesses, one of whom was pregnant, could have been injured that night.

McBride denied the lawyers' request for a stay but noted Ludovico’s service to his country.

"The court has taken into consideration, I believe, in this sentence order, the service that he has provided for his country...," McBride said.

Ross said this was a “hard-fought trial” with a lot of disputed facts and that he believed the judge was fair in imposing the sentences.

Colafella said the guilty verdict was “extremely disappointing,” but the most frustrating part for Drish is this has undermined people’s perception of him.

Both attorneys said they plan to appeal the verdicts.