Augusta Township clerk to return to court to face eavesdropping charges

By Kyle Feldscher Crime and courts reporter

Posted on Sun, Jun 3, 2012 : 1:08 p.m.

Augusta Township clerk Kathy Giszczak will be back in court to face felony eavesdropping charges later this month after a preliminary exam Tuesday.

Giszczak is facing a charge of eavesdropping and divulging information obtained by eavesdropping and was arraigned on the charges in early May. She’ll be back in court for a preliminary exam in the case at 8:30 a.m. June 26, according to court officials.

Giszczak is free on a personal recognizance bond. If convicted, she faces a maximum of two years in prison and a $2,000 fine.

According to deputies, Giszczak recorded a conversation between township Supervisor Pete Hafler and former Deputy Treasurer Janice Blair and then played part of that conversation for Treasurer Angela Sherbine. Blair contended portions of that conversation resulted in her losing her job and the accusations surfaced during a subsequent wrongful termination lawsuit.

Giszczak has previously said she will defend herself against the charges and no laws were broken because she recorded a public conversation in a public place.