Williamsport, PA — In a notable legal decision in Lycoming County, District Attorney Tom Marino has been completely removed from the forthcoming homicide trial of Kenneth Michaels. Michaels faces charges for the alleged fatal shooting of his brother-in-law John Roskowski, 69, inside the lobby of Cable Services on August 17, 2023. The ruling arrived Monday and resonates with profound implications for all parties involved.
Judge Ryan Tira’s directive specified that despite defense demands, the case would not be transferred to the state attorney general’s office. This decision followed extensive discussions during a May 28 hearing, where defense attorney Edward Rymza raised concerns about Marino’s impartiality due to his previous interactions and potential conflict of interest.
Rymza detailed instances that suggested a close association between Marino and the case, such as Marino’s presence at preliminary and bail hearings before formally reassuming his role as District Attorney in December. Moreover, it was revealed that Marino and a county detective interviewed a Cable Services employee in her home about a month after the incident.
The employee reported that at the end of this interview, Marino made questionable remarks emphasizing secrecy about their meeting. Such assertions escalated the scrutiny over Marino’s involvement. While Marino was prepared to testify to clarify these points, he ultimately wasn’t called upon by either party.
The complexities of Marino’s relationship with the victim, including shared transportation to a drug treatment facility and social interactions, were highlighted by the defense. Cumulatively, these aspects underscored potential conflicts, given Marino’s appeal to Roskowski for campaign support during his district attorney run last June.
In preemptively responding to the potential for a conflict of interest, First Assistant District Attorney Martin Wade ensured Marino was blocked from accessing any electronic case files as early as April 2024. Marino eventually texted Wade, formally stepping back from the case altogether.
Judge Tira’s ruling was detailed, barring Marino from any form of involvement, which includes discussing the case with prosecutors, defense personnel, or media and attending related hearings. Tira instructed Wade to secure all physical case documents, isolating them from other case files in a locked environment within his office.
The intricacies of Marino’s past interactions have magnified the debate around ethical boundaries and impartiality essential in legal proceedings. Marino, in a previous talk with the Sun-Gazette, downplayed his connection with Roskowski, stating their relationship was not personal but professional, spanning from legal enforcement encounters in the 1990s to facilitating treatment efforts.
Kenneth Michaels remains detained without bail following his arrest in Cape May, New Jersey, shortly after the incident. The ruling to isolate Marino from the case reflects a pivotal step in ensuring the trial’s integrity amidst complex interpersonal histories and procedural controversies. The community and all related parties now look ahead to a trial overseen with rigorous adherence to judicial impartiality.