HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Solicitor General Bruce L. Castor, Jr. today announced the Office of Attorney General has opted not to appeal a judge’s order dismissing some of the criminal charges filed against former Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed.
“A conviction on the remaining charges in this case could effectively result in a judge sending Mr. Reed to prison for the rest of his life,” Solicitor General Castor said. “We see no reason to delay justice any further.”
There are 144 criminal charges remaining in Reed’s case. Those charges carry a maximum sentence of 886 years in prison.
Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane last July announced the arrest of Reed, 66. According to a statewide investigating grand jury that reviewed evidence and testimony in this case, Reed, during his nearly three decades as mayor, used city money at his discretion to obtain thousands of artifacts, which was a violation of Pennsylvania’s Criminal Code.
Many of those city-owned artifacts were later recovered as investigators with the Office of Attorney General searched Reed’s home and office.
“With his fascination for the Wild West, this man used other people’s money to decorate his house and office with antiques. But, Pennsylvania is not the Wild West. We have the rule of law here,” Solicitor General Castor said. “We look forward to presenting our evidence in court.”
