Mar 20, 2018 3 min read

District Judge Mark Wilson will be overseen by a mentor to resolve a complaint he jailed the mayor of Monongahela in what should have been a civil matter, and for other conduct violations.

The state Court of Judicial Discipline ruled Friday District Judge Jay Weller of North Strabane Township will oversee Wilson’s court through August to help to resolve issues in the case under a judicial diversion program, court records show.

Washington County President Judge Katherine B. Emery removed Wilson from hearing criminal cases in March 2017 after the allegations reached her office. She vacated that order Tuesday, allowing him to return to hearing criminal cases.

The board filed the complaint March 30 stemming from Wilson remanding Mayor Bob Kepics to Washington County jail on $5,000 bond in December 2012 on a criminal charge of theft for failing to repay a personal loan.

The charge filed in a private criminal complaint was eventually withdrawn by Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone. The board also found a pattern of Wilson setting high bonds for petty crimes.

In the ruling, the Court of Judicial Discipline alleged Wilson violated the rules of his court by assisting with the preparation of the private criminal complaint before it was approved by an assistant district attorney.

The court also said Wilson should have disqualified himself in the case against Kepics because his impartiality could have been questioned.

Wilson also “demonstrated an angry demeanor and made intemperate comments” to a state constable while instructing him to serve an arrest warrant on Kepics and escort him to his court in Monongahela, court records indicate.

Wilson still denies the allegations involving Kepics, said his attorney, Christopher Carusone of Harrisburg.

“This is not an admission of guilt and Judge Wilson maintains his innocence,” Carusone said.

The court said it was only the second time it issued such an order against a district judge.

“That’s kind of historic,” Carusone said.

Erie County Judge Stephanie Domitrovich was assigned a mentor following complaints lodged against her in July 2014 about the unpleasant treatment on and off the bench of those who appeared before her and her staff and county employees. The complaints were dismissed after she acknowleged them and successfully completed the counseling program, court records show.

Wilson also faced allegations he signed arrest warrants for people facing misdemeanors of the second degree in welfare fraud cases, contrary to state court rules, the court order states.

Weller must counsel Wilson on “conducting business of court in a manner that upholds and promotes public confidence in independent, integrity and impartiality of the judiciary,” the order states.

Weller also must meet with Wilson at least once a month and also oversee arraignments and bond hearings in Monongahela under the state’s Judicial Diversion Program, and report back to Emery through Aug. 15.

Wilson, a former Monongahela police officer, sought the diversion program to resolve the matter as an alternative to stiffer sanctions.

He won re-election in November. Wilson’s district includes Monongahela, Donora, New Eagle and Carroll Township.

“Judge Wilson is grateful to be admitted into the Judicial Diversion Program. He is looking forward to working with his appointed mentor Judge Jay Weller in order to finally put this matter behind him,” Carusone said.