Probation for lawyer accused of planting tracking, listening devices on ex-girlfriend’s car in 2016

After a spotty four-year relationship ended, Michael J. Casale placed a tracking device and audio recorder in the car belonging to the woman who broke it off. Casale, 65, of 1761 Malvin Place, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to serve five years of probation Thursday.

Cherry Lorson notified police a few days after she found the devices covertly planted on her SUV in her garage at 554 Grandview Place in mid-March of 2016, according to an affidavit.

When police asked her if she had any tips on who would do it, Lorson said she had an on-and-off relationship with Casale that lasted about four years. She ended in in September of 2015.

A month into the criminal investigation, Lorson told police she got a call in April from Casale telling her he wanted to confess to something.

"Lorson told Casale that if he wanted to discuss the devices she found in her vehicle, he needed to know that she found them and turned them over to the police," according to the affidavit.

After he found out there was an investigation, Casale turned himself in.

Both the Attorney General's office and Casale's attorneys were agreed to a period of probation based on Casale's obvious acceptance of the crime and the secondary punishments as a result of being convicted of a felon.

Casale faces a number of what his attorney described as "collateral punishments."

Most significantly, Casale is an attorney and could face state bar suspension or revocation.

Casale's attorney also used the letters given to court as an example of what work Casale has done to "change the face of Williamsport."

"He is profoundly sorry for his misconduct … it is something so out of character and I urge you to take this criminal incident and put it into context to the rest of his life within the community."

His attorney also mentioned that Casale has had issues with obsessive compulsiveness and depression and that they could partially explain the "impulsive drive."

Not even Lorson was asking for any period of incarceration. But she was asking that Casale pay a donation to the YWCA or similar woman's organization.

"We were no longer together, but I still trusted him," Lorson said in a victim impact statement read by the deputy attorney general. "He put himself first … this wasn't an impulsive decision, it was planned."

Before turning to apologize to Lorson and his family sitting in the courtroom, Casale apologized to President Judge Nancy L. Butts.

"I want to first say that I apologize to you. I never thought I would be here in front of you," Casale said. "I know sorry doesn't do it, but I am."

Butts also shared that she was surprised when she heard about the incident, but that lawyers are just as susceptible as anyone else.

"People forget that lawyers are humans too, but that's not an excuse," Butts said.

In addition to the five years on probation, Casale will have to pay $10,000 to the YWCA and complete 100 hours of community service.