The Goat Pen

SNL Producer: 'Republicans Are Easier for Us than Democrats'
'Democrats tend to take it personally; Republicans think it’s funny.'
7:24 AM, FEB 3, 2014 • BY DANIEL HALPER

PITTSBURGH (AP) - A New Jersey state trooper shoplifted gun accessories and attempted to get out of his arrest by telling a Pennsylvania police officer that he would lose his job as a member of Gov. Chris Christie's security detail if charges were filed, a police chief told The Associated Press on Monday.

Trooper William Carvounis, 35, of North Brunswick, N.J., was at a Cabela's sporting goods store on Jan. 8 when he put several items in his cargo pants pockets - including some handgun grips, a pistol magazine and a hat - and put a $29.99 binocular strap in a box for a product worth $19.99, according to a criminal complaint filed by Tilden Officer Dennis Schwoyer.

While Carvounis paid for some items at checkout, he allegedly did not pay for the concealed items, which were worth $267.38.

Tilden Township Chief William McEllroy confirmed the arrest first reported by NewJersey.Watchdog.org, a news website run by an investigative reporter.

Schwoyer filed the charges after Carvounis repeatedly asked for a break, McEllroy told the AP.

"It was, more or less, 'Look, I've got a good job, I'm on the governor's security detail, I don't want to lose my job,' along those lines," McEllroy said.

Carvounis didn't explicitly ask for the break because of his position on the governor's detail; it was "more or less one cop asking another cop for a break multiple times," McEllroy said. He noted that his department's policy forbids such special treatment.

The trooper's attorney, Charles Sciarra, said his client denies he sought special treatment and the underlying shoplifting charges.

He said a police report and the criminal complaint don't mention the trooper asking for a break.


"The initial reports we have don't indicate anything about such a request," said Sciarra, of Hamilton, N.J. "With that said, my client made purchases that day and denies any allegation of any shoplifting. And quite frankly, we see no connection between what's occurred in the store in Pennsylvania and his duties for the New Jersey State Police."

Sciarra confirmed that Carvounis has been suspended from his job. He said "his suspension paperwork from the state police does not mention anything about asking for a courtesy and abusing his position."

Carvounis is charged with two counts of retail theft, online court records show. One is a first-degree misdemeanor that can carry up to five years' in prison, and the other a summary offense, which is similar to a traffic ticket.

The trooper remained free on bond Monday, and court records show he has waived his right to a preliminary hearing, meaning the charges must be disposed of at a trial or through a plea in Berks County Common Pleas Court.

He's just warming up the cell for his boss:

Professor Tiger wrote:

He's just warming up the cell for his boss:

This is a phony scandal even if there is absolute proof that Christie ordered the lane closures and then lied about it.

The bridge was closed! The traffic jams were caused, whether it was by Christie's people or some locals who just wanted to cause a traffic jam. AT THIS POINT, WHAT DOES IT MATTER!

In the subsequent federal trial, United States v. Libby, the jury convicted Libby on four of the five counts in the indictment (one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury, and one count of making false statements)

On August 17, 2010, [Blagojevich] was convicted on one of the 24 federal charges, a charge of lying to the FBI, and the jury was hung on 23 other counts.

[John] Dean pled guilty to obstruction of justice before Watergate trial judge John Sirica on October 19, 1973.