That's funny. They say they received a letter from him yet don't say WHY they chose not to publish it. And hate to break it to ya, Dave, but you DID respond. Ha ha. And yet again, it's denial denial denial from the DAs who shouldn't be held to too high a standard... Read it and WEEP. (Thank my lucky stars this isn't mine, hahahaha!!)
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Selenski claims to be political pawn
BY JAMES CONMY, CITIZENS VOICE STAFF WRITER
05/02/2007

The Citizens’ Voice received a two-page letter to the editor from Hugo Selenski last week. After reviewing its contents, the newspaper decided not to run the letter in its entirety, instead using excerpts for this story.

Accused murderer Hugo Selenski believes Luzerne County’s two top prosecutors are using him as a “scapegoat” to avoid public scrutiny in their quests for higher office.

District attorney and judicial candidate David Lupas and First Assistant District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll, a Democratic candidate to succeed Lupas, declined an invitation to a public question-and-answer session sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Wilkes-Barre Area. Each cited busy schedules, including Selenski trial preparation, for not being able to make the only date offered by the organization.

Serving a four-year state prison sentence for burning two corpses and awaiting trial in two homicides, Selenski lashed out at Lupas and Musto Carroll in a two-page, handwritten April 22 letter to The Citizens’ Voice.

“I am nothing more than a convenient excuse that the public can relate to, a serious fabrication in a display of attempting to be politically correct, also giving Lupas and Carroll a plausible reason to avoid a public debate,” Selenski wrote in the letter.

Lupas had a different view.

“These are laughable, ridiculous rantings of someone who is seeking attention again,” Lupas said Tuesday, insisting that Selenski trial preparation was just part of a busy schedule that prevented him from attending the League of Women Voters event.

“I’m not going to respond to this nonsense. We’re pleased with the way the case has been going. Maybe Mr. Selenski isn’t.”

Selenski also claims in his letter that this is not the first time politics has intruded into his four-year criminal case.

Musto Carroll feared a loss in Selenski’s first trial could have political ramifications for Lupas’ career, Selenski wrote in the letter. The majority of Selenski’s assertion was corroborated by Demetrius Fannick, the attorney who helped clear Selenski of two murder charges in his first trial, but is not on the second case.

Selenski outlined in the letter how Musto Carroll approached Fannick to discuss a plea agreement and the case’s political implications.

“I’ll give you something to ponder by taking you back to early 2005,” Selenski wrote. “Jackie Musto Carroll walked up to attorney Demetrius Fannick in the courthouse and said, ‘Tim, is there any possibility of a plea agreement with Hugo? Dave (Lupas) knows his career is over if he loses this case.’ That sounds like a politically loaded question that only cares about furthering careers rather than being a protector of Luzerne County.”

Musto Carroll adamantly denied Selenski’s claims and said she feels it is “unethical” to disclose whether attorneys discuss a plea agreement in any case.

“The case is going to be tried in a courtroom, despite the defendant’s best efforts to get publicity,” Musto Carroll said. “I’m not going to comment further on any nonsense being spewed by this defendant. All I want to say is this case is progressing nicely and we’re preparing for trial.”

Fannick supported Selenski’s claims. He confirmed a conversation about a plea took place. Furthermore, Fannick claims Musto Carroll used the word “over” when talking about what a loss would mean to Lupas’ career.

“It was more of an off-the-cuff remark,” Fannick said. “It did not appear to me it was something Dave told her. It was like they knew this was a big case, and if they lost, there could be some problems for Dave’s political aspirations.”

Musto Carroll insisted she never discussed anyone’s political aspirations with Fannick.

Fannick said he told Musto Carroll there could be negative reaction from the public if Lupas did not prosecute the first murder trial. Lupas chose not to be on the prosecution team, instead appointing assistants Jim McMonagle, Chris O’Donnell and Sam Sanguedolce.

Fannick conceded Selenski could be taking Musto Carroll’s remarks out of context.

“I’m sorry I made the remark to Hugo,” Fannick said. “It’s certainly not anything I would have repeated to anyone else, but I’m not going to say it did not happen. It just seems to me Hugo still has this bone to pick with Dave Lupas and wants to make this some type of issue.”