Councilman accused of child sex assault can't be forced from office
Kittanning (PA) City Council Vice President David John Croyle, 60, was arrested and charged with felony counts of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor (a disabled 14-year-old boy), aggravated indecent assault of a person with a mental disability, corruption of minors and related charges.
Croyle is the editor and publisher of the Kittanning Paper and senior pastor at the Family-Life Church on South Jefferson Street in Kittanning. Representatives of the Family-Life Church, Applewold Council either refused or did not return requests for comment.
Also arrested and facing identical charges is Applewold Council President Mark Alan Feeney, 55, who also serves as chief of the East Franklin Township Fire Department and fire marshal for North Buffalo Township. In an emailed statement sent Friday afternoon, North Buffalo Township Solicitor Chuck Pascal said Feeney had been removed from his position as fire marshal.
Kittanning City Council does not have the authority to remove a councilman from office Council President Kim Chiesa said Friday. According to Ronald J. Grutza, the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs’ assistant director of government affairs, removing a member of a legislative body is not a power granted to a borough’s council. “Removing someone from office belongs to the court, or by the (state) constitution through the governor, or by impeachment,” he said.
Both men were arraigned on the charges before District Judge James H. Owen on Friday morning and held in the Armstrong County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bond each.
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/13960133-74/borough-councilmen-accused-of-child-sex-assault-cant-be-forced-from-office