JUDGE DELAYS GIGI SULLIVAN SENTENCING

Sentencing has been delayed for Gigi Sullivan, the former district justice
who was removed from her post amid corruption and drug dealing charges.

Sullivan, 39, formerly of Springdale Borough, pleaded guilty in November to
charges of operating a corrupt organization, obstruction of justice,
hindering apprehension, bribery and conspiracy to deliver illegal drugs.
She pleaded no contest to one count of conspiracy to commit forgery.

She faces a maximum of 60 years in prison under sentencing guidelines.
However, her attorneys have said that she could expect far less than that
because the drug case is her first felony offense.

In a separate case that followed her indictment in 1999 by a state grand
jury, Sullivan is serving two years' probation after pleading guilty to
shoplifting. Sullivan also had a shoplifting arrest and conviction in 1982
in State College.

Sullivan, whose last known address was with relatives in West Deer, also is
awaiting a preliminary hearing on drunken driving charges in connection
with an incident Jan. 12 in West Deer.

Police said that her blood alcohol level was 0.27, nearly three times the
level at which a driver is considered too drunk to drive in Pennsylvania,
when her car crossed the center line and struck another vehicle. Sullivan
then tried to flee, police said.

The driver of the other car made a U-turn and followed Sullivan while
calling police on a cell phone.

Defense attorney Patrick J. Thomassey said that Sullivan is struggling with
addiction to heroin and cocaine. Because of her legal troubles, she has
been unable to stay employed, he said yesterday.

Sullivan recently entered the rehabilitation clinic at St. Francis Medical
Center.

Common Pleas Judge Robert E. Colville, who was to sentence her yesterday,
said that treatment specialists at the hospital recommended that Sullivan
submit to a 29-day rehab program.

Colville rescheduled her sentencing on the corruption and drug charges for
Feb. 20.

Sullivan was the district justice in Springdale when she was indicted in
October 1999 in connection with a drug ring authorities said was operated
by Donald Geraci of Penn Hills, owner of Cheswick Auto Sales. She was
removed from office and was defeated in a bid for re-election in November 1999.