EX-WEST MIFFLIN DETECTIVE CONVICTED IN CORRUPTION CASE

A former West Mifflin detective is the second borough police official
to face jail time for corruption in two years.

An Allegheny County jury on Thursday convicted Noel Missig, 40, of
assaulting a detained juvenile and lying about the seizure of video
poker machines. The panel acquitted him of charges he planted drugs
during an arrest.

"This has been a cloud over the good officers in the police
department for some time and really brings out negatives about our
community," said West Mifflin Councilman Richard Olasz. "Out of these
trials, hopefully we'll clean house."

Missig, a 12-year veteran of the police department, faces a maximum
of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 20 by Common Pleas
Judge David R. Cashman.

"Mr. Missig still asserts his innocence," said defense attorney Steve
Greenberg. "But this is the system we live under, and we'll live with
the verdict."

Greenberg said Missig should receive probation for his five
convictions of charges of false swearing, tampering with public
records, unsworn falsification to authorities, simple assault and
official oppression.

Assistant District Attorney Lawrence Claus disagreed.

"Jail would certainly be appropriate. Police officers are held to a
higher standard," Claus said. "This (verdict) is a strong statement
that public corruption in any form is unacceptable."

Missig was fired in February 2007, and he will lose his pension as a
result of the convictions, Claus said.

Prosecutors charged Missig after a joint FBI and state police
investigation that spanned four years and also led to charges against
former Chief Frank Diener, who resigned in October 2005. Diener was
sentenced in May 2007 to a year and a day in federal prison for
obstructing justice and violating federal drug laws. He also pleaded
guilty to 19 state charges and served the federal and state sentences
together.

Missig declined comment and showed no emotion. His family began to
cry as the verdict was read.

"It's a sad day. I feel badly for the detective's family," Olasz
said.

After deliberating since Monday, the jury convicted Missig on charges
related to a December 2001 assault on then-juvenile suspect Andrew
Palmer. Sgt. Michael Ragin testified last week that he saw Missig
kick Palmer, now 24, after he escaped from the police station.

Missig also was convicted of lying in a May 2000 report in which he
said he received information from borough building inspector Mark
Rider about video gambling machines at a business. Rider testified he
never gave Missig any such information.

The jury acquitted Missig of four charges related to accusations he
planted a package of cocaine in the pocket of Richard Jasek during a
March 2004 arrest.

"Everyone had the same opinion that he was not guilty of planting the
drugs," said juror Bryan Leones, 20, of Gibsonia. "There were a lot
of questions about witness credibility."

"On the Jasek case, we all agreed there was not enough evidence,"
said juror Renee Knipp, 33, of Ohio Township. "Initially we were
split on the Palmer and poker machines accusations."

"But the fact that Palmer reported it in his first juvenile trial and
maintained that even before the FBI investigation made it more
credible," said juror Michelle Telli, 53.