The 17-year-old son of a state senator was charged Thursday with illegally possessing his father's handgun — a weapon a teenage friend used to kill himself last year.
The filing of the misdemeanor count against Bobby Regola was confirmed by his attorney. Prosecutors cannot comment on the teen's case, which is closed because he is a minor.
Regola's father, Sen. Robert Regola, was charged Tuesday with perjury, false swearing, reckless endangerment and illegal possession of a weapon by a minor.
Authorities allege the elder Regola lied when he testified at a coroner's hearing that he never stored his gun in his son's bedroom in the months before neighbor Louis Farrell, 14, used it to shoot himself July 22.
Louis's body was found in woods behind their homes. The boy had a key to Regola's house so he could care for the family's pets while the lawmaker was in Harrisburg.
If Bobby Regola is found delinquent because of the charge — the juvenile court equivalent to being found guilty — he could be detained in a juvenile facility or placed on probation up to his 21st birthday.
Bobby Regola's attorney, Duke George, said both the senator and his son are innocent. He said the elder Regola has no intention of resigning. If Robert Regola is convicted of perjury and sentenced he would have to give up his Senate seat.
