saga 4
In the months after the fire, Faller and McAuliffe's friendship began to deteriorate. Then, on May 18, 2002, Faller saw a legal notice in the Buckeye Lake Beacon that McAuliffe was ending the partnership of Judge-R-Work.
Faller was upset and went to confront McAuliffe.
''Basically, (he said) I was a loose cannon -- he couldn't afford me running around during the election,'' Faller said.
McAuliffe was running for re-election in 2003.
After the arson, the two had several conversations about the fire, which McAuliffe allegedly helped Faller start by placing a halogen work light against a wall on the home's first floor.
At one point, McAuliffe threatened his life, Faller said.
''He said basically he'd kill me or have me killed,'' he said. ''I was scared ... I realized how much power he had and money and what he could do to me.''
Faller sought the help of attorney Kenneth Boggs. When Boggs heard the story, he contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Special Agent Dan Ozbolt opened an investigation.
Before talking with the government in November 2002, Faller was granted full immunity for his crime, meaning that he will not face criminal charges for his part in the arson. He is a protected witness.
In December 2002, Faller was served papers from McAuliffe's attorney, Mike O'Reilly. McAuliffe was suing him for the $150,000 he loaned him to purchase construction equipment for their partnership.
Faller called O'Reilly, he said, telling him about the arson and that he was afraid McAuliffe would kill him.
''Basically, he was talking to me like I was a piece of dirt,'' Faller said. ''I told O'Reilly I had a tape of me and Don talking about the fire.''
Faller had no such tape and did not have the government's permission to contact O'Reilly.
A meeting was planned between the two men and their attorneys at O'Reilly's Lancaster office at Dagger, Johnston, Miller, Ogilvie & Hampson. It was in a conference room there that agents wired Faller and taped a private conversation between Faller and McAuliffe, without the presence of their attorneys.
Faller's instructions were to try to get McAuliffe to talk about his involvement in the arson.
''I don't want them guys to know you and me broke the law together,'' said a voice on the tape identified as Faller.
''As far as I'm concerned, in this discussion there's no breaking the law,'' said the other voice, allegedly McAuliffe. ''... You were using this as an excuse not to pay back this loan, and that's extortion.
''We never did anything. Let's just leave it at that.''
The trial will resume Monday.
Originally published Friday, January 30, 2004
In the months after the fire, Faller and McAuliffe's friendship began to deteriorate. Then, on May 18, 2002, Faller saw a legal notice in the Buckeye Lake Beacon that McAuliffe was ending the partnership of Judge-R-Work.
Faller was upset and went to confront McAuliffe.
''Basically, (he said) I was a loose cannon -- he couldn't afford me running around during the election,'' Faller said.
McAuliffe was running for re-election in 2003.
After the arson, the two had several conversations about the fire, which McAuliffe allegedly helped Faller start by placing a halogen work light against a wall on the home's first floor.
At one point, McAuliffe threatened his life, Faller said.
''He said basically he'd kill me or have me killed,'' he said. ''I was scared ... I realized how much power he had and money and what he could do to me.''
Faller sought the help of attorney Kenneth Boggs. When Boggs heard the story, he contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Special Agent Dan Ozbolt opened an investigation.
Before talking with the government in November 2002, Faller was granted full immunity for his crime, meaning that he will not face criminal charges for his part in the arson. He is a protected witness.
In December 2002, Faller was served papers from McAuliffe's attorney, Mike O'Reilly. McAuliffe was suing him for the $150,000 he loaned him to purchase construction equipment for their partnership.
Faller called O'Reilly, he said, telling him about the arson and that he was afraid McAuliffe would kill him.
''Basically, he was talking to me like I was a piece of dirt,'' Faller said. ''I told O'Reilly I had a tape of me and Don talking about the fire.''
Faller had no such tape and did not have the government's permission to contact O'Reilly.
A meeting was planned between the two men and their attorneys at O'Reilly's Lancaster office at Dagger, Johnston, Miller, Ogilvie & Hampson. It was in a conference room there that agents wired Faller and taped a private conversation between Faller and McAuliffe, without the presence of their attorneys.
Faller's instructions were to try to get McAuliffe to talk about his involvement in the arson.
''I don't want them guys to know you and me broke the law together,'' said a voice on the tape identified as Faller.
''As far as I'm concerned, in this discussion there's no breaking the law,'' said the other voice, allegedly McAuliffe. ''... You were using this as an excuse not to pay back this loan, and that's extortion.
''We never did anything. Let's just leave it at that.''
The trial will resume Monday.
Originally published Friday, January 30, 2004
