Patrick Rocco Reese, Kathleen Kane's Driver, Has Appeal Denied

NORRISTOWN, PA — A petition by the former driver of Attorney General Kathleen Kane to appeal his conviction has been denied by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, officials announced Wednesday.

Patrick Rocco Reese, the driver and "special agent" of Kane, who was convicted of perjury, will surrender to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility on Monday, Nov. 13.

Reese had pleaded not guilty and filed a petition for an allowance of appeal of his charges, which include indirect criminal contempt.

Reese was originally charged on Aug. 11, 2015 in the midst of the investigation into Kane's illegal activities.

During that time, Reese allegedly used his email to access information relating to the investigating Grand Jury on the case. This came despite a direct protective court order by Judge William R. Carpenter which barred all employees of the Office of the Attorney General from accessing such information.

Reese was convicted on Dec. 8, 2015, and sentenced to three to six months in prison, a $1,000 fine, and 100 hours of community service. He appealed his sentence, and his appeal was rejected on Feb. 27, 2017. The state Supreme Court declined to even hear a second appeal in a decision issued on Oct. 31.

Kane, 51, was sentenced in Oct. 2016 to 10 to 23 months in jail for perjury and related counts. Prosecutors alleged Kane leaked information about a prior grand jury probe in an attempt to embarrass a rival. The jury agreed, following damaging testimony of a former political consultant who said he was asked to deliver the leaked documents to the Philadelphia Daily News.

Kane maintained her innocence after being arrested and arraigned, stating that she was "very disappointed" in the charges that were filed and that she would vigorously defend herself.

Kane became the first woman and the first Democrat to be elected Pennsylvania's attorney general in 2012. Many at the time believed that Kane was destined for even higher office, including U.S. Congress or beyond. Former President Bill Clinton even endorsed and campaigned for Kane in 2012.

Patch file photo