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Wednesday, May 19, 2004     Page: 11A

OPINION
ALMOST FIVE YEARS ago, a blaze destroyed the building at 458-460 N. Main
St. in Wilkes-Barre. On Friday, two men were charged with arson and related
offenses.
   
Five years. Justice is supposed to be blind, not belated.
    We can wonder, speculate and guess why Luzerne County District Attorney
David Lupas waited so long to file charges against Jason Fierman and David
Jaslar, the men who rented retail space in the building, the men charged with
the arson fire.
   
It would be better if Lupas explained the delay to the people of Luzerne
County.
   
While the fire didn’t happen while Lupas was DA, he did inherit the case.
And since then, a state police fire marshal recommended the charges and the
owner of the building, Virgil Argenta, publicly rebuked Lupas for overlooking
the findings of investigators.
   
Lupas denied Argenta’s claims then and now. And charges have been filed.
   
Then what’s different? Until Lupas helps the people of Luzerne County
understand what has changed, his office is tainted. Was it neglect or
indecision that caused the case to sit idle? Did new information or an
approaching deadline prompt action? Does Lupas have confidence in the case
now? Are there other cases so far on the back burner they’ve gone cold.
   
This fire investigation happened so long ago, one of the accused men has
found a job at the Luzerne County prison.
   
Lupas needn’t explain the irony of that, but for the sake of his office and
the people of Luzerne County, he should reveal why there was such a lengthy
delay on these charges.