By Bobby Kerlik

Published: Tuesday, June 19, 2012, 5:00 p.m.
Updated: Friday, March 29, 2013

Former state Sen. Jane Orie will not get out of prison while she appeals her case, an Allegheny County judge ruled Tuesday.

Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning denied a request from the former senator to get out while she appeals her 14 convictions of using Senate staffers for campaign work and introducing forged documents during a trial.

Orie's attorney, William Costopoulos, filed the request Friday. He did not return a call for comment.

Orie, 50, is at the women's state prison in Muncy in Lycoming County, serving a 21⁄2- to 10-year sentence. Prison officials said she could be eligible to move to Cambridge Springs in Crawford County after processing at Muncy. Cambridge Springs generally houses lower-risk female offenders.

Manning has until July 4 to decide how much money the McCandless Republican must pay in restitution. Prosecutors suggested that amount could be about $2 million. A jury convicted her in March, and Manning imposed the sentence last month.

Orie, who served 11 years in the Senate, is seeking a new trial or a reduction in her sentence. Manning has yet to rule on those requests.

Mike Manko, spokesman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., declined to comment.

Bobby Kerlik is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-391-0927 or bkerlik@tribweb.com.

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