JOHNSTOWN – Steps are moving forward in the case against former DuBois City Manager John “Herm” Suplizio and former city employee Roberta “Bobbie” Shaffer, as the court prepares for a potential trial.
During a preliminary hearing Thursday morning, the defense argued that the government must specify which transactions were allegedly illegal and clarify which Pennsylvania laws were violated in order to properly prepare for trial.
In response, prosecutors stated they will examine the entirety of the account in question rather than narrowing the scope to select transactions. They also maintained that they are not required to cite specific Pennsylvania laws, only to prove that public funds were taken without proper authorization.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Stephanie Haines announced that she will take the arguments under advisement. A decision is expected within 30 days, with the possibility of setting a trial date as early as the spring of 2026.
Shaffer did not appear in court for Thursday’s proceedings.
Suplizio and Shaffer are accused of misappropriating approximately $1.5 million in city funds between 2008 and 2022.
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