HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A judge threw out 305 of the charges filed against former Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed on Monday. Senior Judge Kevin Hess ruled the charges were too old to prosecute. However, over 140 more charges against Reed, 66, still stand. The dismissed charges were from Reed's time as mayor of Harrisburg. Hess ruled the charges were filed more than five years after Reed left office, and not subject to an extension.
The judge's ruling could be appealed. "We are certainly disappointed, " said Jeff Johnson, deputy press secretary for the Attorney General's Office. "At this time we have not had an opportunity to completely review the judge's decision. We will decide a course of action after that review is complete."
Reed is being prosecuted for improperly diverting money from bond offerings to pursue his own interests. A Grand Jury presentment recommended that Reed be charged with Corrupt Organizations, Misapplication of Property of the Government, Deceptive Business Practices, Tampering with Records, Securing Execution of Document by Deception, Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition, Theft by Deception, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Theft of Services, Bribery and Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activities.