Former Centre County Assistant District Attorney Steve Sloane was charged with seven felony charges of selling marijuana late Monday afternoon, according to court documents filed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Sloane, best known for his friendship with the late former District Attorney Ray Gricar, served as the assistant district attorney when an investigation of Jerry Sandusky first began in 1998.
Sloane has previously taught at Penn State University and is currently listed as a “member” on the university’s directory system.
Penn State Spokeswoman Lisa Powers, however, wrote in an email that she does not know why Sloane is listed in the university directory. She said he left the university in December 2011 after serving as a lecturer in the crime, law and justice department.
Sloane’s charges include manufacturing, delivery or possession of marijuana with the intent to manufacture or deliver, as well as conspiracy involving the manufacturing of the drug and the possession of a contraband substance, according to court documents.
Of the charges, seven are felonies, one is a third degree felony and one is a misdemeanor, according to court documents.
Sloane, 53, formerly practiced law at what is now Masorti & Donaldson, P.C. — when Sloane practiced, it was Masorti & Sullivan — but he was terminated in Oct. 2011 when his partners caught wind of the investigation, said Robert Donaldson, managing partner at the law firm.
The attorney had only began work at the State College firm in July 2011, Donaldson said.
“All members of our firm have cooperated fully with law enforcement in their investigation,” he said.
Sloane was also removed from staff when current District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller took office in January and made staffing changes.
She said Sloane never worked directly for her, as he was one of the first people she let go.
Parks Miller confirmed the case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s office, which is currently led by Attorney General Linda Kelly. She said she was not made aware of any additional information in the investigation.
Prior to being removed from staff, Sloane prosecuted many well-known local cases, including Penn State student Anthony Torsell, who was found guilty on charges of vehicular homicide and drunk driving after killing Conshohocken resident Richard Smith and critically injuring former Penn State student Aaron Stidd, as previously reported.
Sloane did not return repeated calls for comment as of press time Monday night.
