Judge needs more time to rule on Bucks D.A. case

A Bucks County judge said Thursday that it would take at least another month before he can rule on whether District Attorney David Heckler abused his discretion in deciding this year to not charge a Doylestown police officer with perjury.

That officer, Keith Dietz, has been accused by defense attorney Eric Marttila of lying during the prosecution of Marttila's client Paul Bradberry.

Bradberry was arrested by Dietz in March 2013 after questioning the need to show him a photo ID on West State Street in Doylestown, according to court records.

Dietz handcuffed Bradberry and then shot a Taser at him when the questioning continued, court records say. Bradberry was charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, and in November 2013 was acquitted on all counts.

Bradberry and his attorney subsequently sued Dietz in federal court. That suit was settled, Marttila said, though he did not say for how much.

Bradberry and Marttila also subsequently filed the private criminal complaint in Bucks County, alleging that Dietz lied during Bradberry's prosecution.

When Heckler declined to seek perjury charges following Marttila's complaint, Marttila argued that it was because of Heckler's desire to protect fellow law enforcers.

Heckler has denied those allegations and did so again during a brief hearing in front of Judge Wallace Bateman on Thursday morning.

Heckler and Marttila frequently sparred during the hearing. Heckler, for example, berated Marttila for interrupting him, while Marttila called Heckler the "chief spin master for a serial liar wearing a badge."

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