Potential Conflict Causes Delay In Bristol Arson Hearing
by Alex Lloyd Gross
The arson hearing for two alleged arson suspects has been delayed. Tom Parker and Charles Vandenberg had a hearing to see if their cases would be heard in Doylestown. Parker waived his hearing and when Vandenberg showed up for his hearing, the prosecution objected to his attorney, Paul Lang and is trying to have him removed.
The legal fireworks stem from a previous criminal case involving Parker who hired Paul Lang to be his attorney, several years ago. Lang is Vandenberg;s current attorney and the district attorney’s office is citing potential conflict if Lang has to cross examine his own, former client.
In court, Lang denied any conflict and said his client waived that conflict away. “I’m ready to go”, Lang told District Judge David Chiciletti. Still, the prosecution wanted a judge in Doylestown to hear the conflict argument to see if Lang would have to be removed or if he could stay.
Both males are accused, along with Gavin Montoya, of setting a van on fire on the 700 block of Cedar Ave. last year, on August 8. That fire spread to a house . Fire Police Captain Ed Margavich responded to that call and went to a firehouse for more equipment. He suffered a fall and later died from surgery complication from that fall.. Unfortunately, due to the current law, A loophole forbids the defendants from being charged for his death.. Both Vandenberg and Parker are in custody and arrived in a constable van wearing yellow and orange jumpsuits, with INMATE on the back.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo =Delaware Valley News.com Defendants Vandenberg and Parker arrive for court.
They were paraded past a group of firefighters and fire police who looked at the pair of suspected arsonists with disgust. State Senator Frank Farry is working to close that loophole. You can read about that here. The judge said he would set the hearing again in the near future.