PATRICK THOMASSEY DEFENSE ATTORNEY
Patrick Thomassey, who will represent Michael Rosfeld, is known as one of the go-to criminal defense lawyers in the area.
Mr. Thomassey, 70, spent the first five years of his legal career as an assistant district attorney, including prosecuting the 1976 Manpower scandal.
In that case, 13 people were in- dicted for mishandling funds in the Allegheny County Department of Manpower, which was responsible for distributing millions in federal money to provide jobs for unemployed or disadvantaged youth.
In 1979, Mr. Thomassey prosecuted serial killer Richard Henkel, who was suspected of killing 31 people.
In 1981, Mr. Thomassey, a graduate of Duquesne University School of Law, left the DA’s office, joining a local firm for two years before going out on his own in 1984.
During his 35-year career as a defense attorney, Mr. Thomassey represented retired Brentwood police Lt. Milton E. Mulholland, who was one of several officers accused in the death of Jonny Gammage.
Gammage, the cousin of former Pittsburgh Steeler Ray Seals, died after a traffic stop on Route 51 in Overbrook on Oct. 12, 1995.
Two separate juries were unable to reach a verdict in Lt. Mulholland’s case, and the prosecution withdrew the charges instead of having a third trial.
Most recently, Mr. Thomassey represented Alex Hribal, the former Franklin Regional High School student accused of stabbing 20 students and a security guard at the school in April 2014.
Hribal pleaded guilty to 21 counts each of attempted homicide and aggravated assault.
Mr. Thomassey argued that his client was mentally ill as a result of bullying during his school years. However, the judge rejected the attorney’s request to enter a guilty-but-mentally-ill plea.
Hribal was ordered to serve 23½ to 60 years in prison in January 2018.