Mezz Takes The Stand As Trial Winds Down

The Journal of Martinsburg continues its gavel-to-gavel coverage today in the federal criminal trial of ex-House Education Chairman Jerry Mezzatesta, D-Hampshire, and David Friend, the county's former schools superintendent.

The Journal reports that the case is now in the hands of the jury after Mezzatesta testified and the defense and federal prosecutors offered closing arguments.

Mezzatesta and Friend are charged with "conspiracy and of misapplying public funds between January 2004 and June 2005. An indictment alleges Mezzatesta acted with an intent to derive an advantage in his effort to be re-elected in 2004," Edward Marshall writes.