Medford schools chief preparing DUI defense
Medford Schools Superintendent Joe Del Rossi, charged with DUI three months ago, is asking for more discovery in preparation for his defense. The municipal judge hearing his case excused herself, citing a conflict of interest, and the matter was moved to a different court in Maple Shade.
Medford schools chief preparing DUI defense
Jan Hefler
Medford Schools Superintendent Joe Del Rossi, who was charged with DUI nearly four months ago when he flipped over a district-owned Jeep, is asking the police for more documents to prepare his defense. When he was arrested Feb. 26 in Evesham, he told police he had swerved to avoid a deer.
There's no word yet on whether he will return to school in September.
Del Rossi took a leave of absence in March and is being paid for accrued sick and vacation time, according to school district officials. His salary is $179,000.
On Monday, Del Rossi appeared before Maple Shade Municipal Court Judge Corey Ahart for a status hearing. His lawyer, John S. Sitzler, said Evesham Municipal Judge Karen Caplan had excused herself from the case due to a conflict of interest.
Judge Ahart scheduled another hearing for 5 p.m. July 23. She told the Evesham prosecutor to give Sitzler additional police files needed for his defense.
Del Rossi has not returned calls for comment but issued a statement in March apologizing for "any inconvenience, concern or unrest this situation has caused our school district, especially our students."
But now, school's out for summer and the events of the past few months are likely the furthest thing from students' minds.
This should be good. What kind of defense does one have for a DUI? The only people to benefit will be the ambulance chasers.— aviator- he is milking the cash cow for all he can get. probably under the advice from his wonderful attorney— bbewsirhc
Comment removed.- Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time..... don't do it.— mightymax
- These folks will do anything to keep that public funded 6 figure salary flowing into their bank account. So, let him have his day in court and should he be found guilty (hard to beat a DUI and rightly so).....fire him immediately with no benefits or give aways. For the sake of the Medford taxpayer, there had better be some kind of morals clause in this gentlemans contract that leaves the taxpayer off the hook....— DelawareRiverRat
- Why would someone be fired for a DUI unless he has to drive for a living? Makes no sense. — URANIUM235
- Comment removed.
The real problem is the big breasted blonde in the SUV at the time of the accident.- @Uranium235: For a clue to your answer, read the first sentence of this story. Maybe then it will make sense for you. Then again, maybe not.— DelawareRiverRat
- The incident and elements of a crime have to come together at a trial. Then there are appeals. Preliminary motions will probably decide this case. But I'm sure there is probably a valid explanation for flipping a school vehicle. Let the good times roll.— SocialReject
