Defense attorney: Love triangle drove Philly D.A. to investigate state Rep. Miranda

DEFENSE ATTORNEY A. Charles Peruto Jr. yesterday accused District Attorney Seth Williams of investigating state Rep. J.P. Miranda and charging him with a crime because they "were both dating the same girl at the same time."

A spokeswoman for Williams called that claim "ludicrous."

Peruto spoke after a preliminary hearing, in which Municipal Court Judge David Shuter held for trial three felonies filed on Jan. 27 against Miranda and his sister, Michelle Wilson.

They are accused of using a "ghost employee" to funnel state payroll money to Wilson after Miranda was told he could not hire her to serve on his staff.

"I think it's a vindictive prosecution that singled out J.P. Miranda because J.P. Miranda and Seth Williams were both dating the same girl at the same time," Peruto said. "I think this is one way to eliminate your competition."

Peruto declined to identify the woman, saying he did not want to "besmirch" her in the media.

Peruto also said he plans to file a motion to dismiss the charges, citing the woman as the motivating factor for Williams.

"It's a selective prosecution, based on several factors," Peruto said. "That's just one factor. That's his motive for doing it."

Tasha Jamerson, a spokeswoman for Williams, responded in an email: "The evidence in this case, which includes videotape, text messages, bank statements and testimony by Miranda's own staff, speaks for itself, and the other comments by this defense attorney are not only ludicrous they are completely false."

Williams, while announcing the charges, said he learned about an alleged ghost employee in Miranda's office from a Fox 29 report televised last summer.

Miranda and Williams are charged with conflict of interest, conspiracy and perjury for testimony they gave to a grand jury investigating the case.

Timothy Duckett testified in yesterday's hearing that he volunteered for Miranda's 2012 campaign and went to work for him after the election. Duckett, who carries a gun and does private security work, said he was "on call" when Miranda needed a driver or an escort at events.

Duckett and Dwayne Lilley, who was hired to be Miranda's chief of staff, said Wilson really supervised the district staff.

Texts between Duckett and Miranda show the representative repeatedly asking about Duckett's pay and then instructing him to give his sister money.

Duckett, who was given immunity from prosecution in exchange for his cooperation against Miranda, kept a ledger of each payment and had Wilson initial it when she received the cash.

Duckett said he balked when Miranda told him to give his sister $900 from a $938 paycheck.

"Enough was enough," he testified. "I just didn't do it."

Peruto suggested in court that Miranda reimbursed Duckett.

"Isn't it a fact that J.P. Miranda asked you to front her money when he was in Harrisburg and then gave it back to you?" Peruto asked Duckett, who denied ever receiving cash from Miranda.

Miranda is in the second year of his first term. Asked after the hearing if Miranda will seek reelection this year, Peruto said: "Absolutely."