Snowstorm could be a problem

US Courthouse Max Rosenn in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Anticipating the predicted snowstorm, Judge Richard A. Caputo instructed both parties to call in at 7 a.m. Wednesday to find out the status of the third day of proceedings in the federal trial of the three former Shenandoah police officers charged with conspiring to obstruct justice during the investigation into the fatal beating of an undocumented immigrant.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Northeast Pennsylvania and prognosticates up to four inches of snow with temperatures in the lower 20’s. The storm will last until Wednesday afternoon when, according to the NWS, there will be gusts of 30 miles per hour.

Jury selection will continue at 9 a.m. Wednesday pending any other indication, said Judge Caputo.

In Tuesday’s proceedings at least 30 prospective jurors were interviewed, and 12 of them were dismissed for various reasons.

Court sources said that earlier in the day 20 more people were added to the pool of prospective jurors but were not sworn in.

It is still uncertain how many prospective jurors will make the last pool to finally select the 12 jurors and two alternates who will sit during the trial.

Matthew R. Nestor, William Moyer and Jason Hayes, who were chief, lieutenant and officer, respectively, face federal charges for allegedly obstructing the investigation of the July 12, 2008, beating of Luis Eduardo Ramirez Zavala. Moyer has also been charged with witness and evidence tampering, and with lying to the FBI.

If convicted, the defendants face 20 years in prison on each of the obstruction charges and an additional five years in prison for conspiring to obstruct justice. Moyer faces an additional five years in prison for making false statements to the FBI.