Opinion ID: 2064152
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 17

Heading: Did Sprague Quash Homicide Case as Favor to Urella?

Text: This story was written by Inquirer Staff Writer Kent Pollock following an extensive investigation by Inquirer Staff Writer Greg Walter and Pollock. First Assistant-District Attorney Richard A. Sprague, whose name was linked last week to former State Police Commissioner Rocco P. Urella in a wiretapping controversy, once declined to prosecute Urella's son in a homicide case. Urella's son and a LaSalle College classmate were involved in a 1963 fight that led to the beating death of a 48-year-old man, but Sprague recommended there be no prosecution despite objections by police. The wiretapping controversy began last November when men working directly for Urella were seen fleeing a King of Prussia motel after wiretaps were discovered on State Crime Commission investigators' telephones. At the time, the investigators were probing Philadelphia police corruption  an investigation that both Sprague and District Attorney Arlen Specter have severely opposed since its inception. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT sources have told The Inquirer that it has been substantiated that Urella's men were keeping tabs on the commission's Philadelphia investigation and that Sprague kept in constant touch with Urella during that time. Sprague's name was linked to Urella during court-martial proceedings against three men who worked for Urella. Sprague has publicly denied any connection with the wiretapping. Sprague's involvement with Urella Sr. became evident four days after the wiretaps were discovered when, The Inquirer learned, Sprague spent an entire day in conference with Urella at Urella's Delaware County home. Sprague recently categorized his relationship to Urella as very close, exceedingly close. An extensive Inquirer investigation into the Sprague-Urella relationship and the 1963 homicide revealed that: A MIDNIGHT TELEPHONE call was placed by Urella to Sprague shortly after Urella learned of his son's involvement in the homicide. Hours later, Urella drove Sprague to the police department's homicide division where Sprague, as chief of homicide for the District Attorney's office, was partly responsible for deciding not to prosecute Rocco P. Urella Jr. SPRAGUE ACQUIESCED to police demands to prosecute Urella's classmate, but asked a magistrate to drop the charges. Urella Jr. did participate in the fight, but was never charged with any crime. THE VICTIM'S ROOMMATE told police he was being assaulted by Urella Jr.'s classmate when the fatal assault apparently took place. Nevertheless, Urella's classmate was arrested. The victim's roommate was present at the magistrate's hearing, but wasn't called to testify by Sprague. THERE ARE DISCREPANCIES between Sprague's official report, which makes no mention of Urella Jr. even as a witness, and comments he made at the time.