A plea agreement is on the table for retired businessman and former substitute teacher Byron Lasser, who emerged from a June incident involving Hollidaysburg Area school board Vice President Darlee Sill with two aggravated assault charges.
Shortly after Lasser allegedly grabbed Sill by his suit jacket lapels as they left a high school graduation ceremony, he issued an apology that was printed in the Mirror.
Hollidaysburg Borough police charged Lasser with aggravated assault because Sill was protected under state law as a public official performing his responsibilities as a school board member.
Attorney Ted Krol represents Lasser and seeks to reduce his charges to misdemeanor offenses.
"There is a question whether leaving a graduation is a board member performing his duty," Krol said.
During a status conference scheduled for Wednesday, Krol said Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio may relate the agreement to Mifflin County President Judge Timothy S. Searer, who is overseeing the case.
But Krol said he has not received a written confirmation from Consiglio that he accepts the plea deal for reduced charges.
Attempts to reach Consiglio for comment were unsuccessful.
"I expect we will schedule for a plea and sentencing," Krol said. "The only hiccup would be if plea is not acceptable to Consiglio or [Judge] Searer, then we schedule for jury trial."
