Judge orders briefs in Covener case

BELLEFONTE -- Pre-trial motions have yet to be ruled on in the computer tampering case involving former Undergraduate Student Government Senate President Jason Covener.

Yesterday, Centre County Judge Thomas K. Kistler requested both the defense and the prosecution submit legal briefs explaining how previous testimony is relevant to the legal issues at hand. Both sides have until Monday to submit the briefs, Covener said.

After receiving the new information, Kistler is expected to rule on the motions filed by Covener's attorney, Karen Muir, sometime late next week, he said.

Covener was arrested in November on charges of computer tampering, wiretapping and unlawful use of a computer in the USG office and soon after resigned his position as USG Senate president.

The five pending motions include a request for the prosecution to provide a more detailed bill of particulars about the charges, for repression of certain testimony and evidence and the inclusion of all USG office computers as evidence, Covener said.

"We want a chance to inspect (all USG) computers," he said. "(The police) only took what they wanted."

--by Tracy Wilson