Jarrett J. Ferentino

Jarrett J. Ferentino, Esquire has been a homicide prosecutor in Pennsylvania
for two decades. He has prosecuted thousands of cases including the prosecution of
over 100 homicides, sexual abuse and drug trafficking cases.
Attorney Ferentino is a principal in the law firm of Pugliese, Finnegan, Shaffer &
Ferentino LLC, in Kingston, Pennsylvania. Attorney Ferentino is a federal and state
trial lawyer handling many different types of matters representing individual,
corporate, and government clients.

Case Summaries

In 2015 Attorney Ferentino was a lead prosecutor securing two first-degree murder
convictions and two life sentences in Commonwealth v. Hugo Selenski for the
torture and murders of Michael Kerkowski and Tammy Fassett. The conviction
followed a high-profile defendant’s brash escape from jail setting off a nationwide
manhunt. Selenski was acquitted of an initial double murder prosecution. Ferentino
volunteered as a young prosecutor to take on one of the largest cases in the state’s
history. The case was a nine-year odyssey battle through a national corruption
scandal, politics, and the legal system ultimately resulting in victory for Ferentino
and his team.
In 2018, Attorney Ferentino lead the prosecutions of Commonwealth v. Roberto
“Ruthless” Battle and David “D-Rock” Nealy for the 2013 killing of Michael “DJ
Mo” Onley in Wilkes-Barre securing double first-degree murder convictions. The
case involved the death of a beloved young black community activist and artist who
was standing near the door of a local popular nightclub. The matter was unsolved
for three years and was then assigned to Ferentino who worked with a team of
investigators fettering out new information resulting in the arrests, prosecution and
conviction of two gang members.
In 2014, Attorney Ferentino secured a first-degree murder conviction in the Sherman
Hills housing project execution slaying of Shantique Goodson in the case
of Commonwealth v. Kenneth Evans. Evans a reputed gang member and drug
dealer executed his unarmed female drug trade competitor in broad daylight while

she tried to resolve a territorial dispute. The shooting caused a stir and congressional
action related to the troubling housing project.
In 2009, Ferentino secured a first-degree murder conviction against Alan Leitzel and
Tiffany Simmons for the killing of 3-month-old Xavier Simmons. Leitzel killed the
child while Simmons slept nearby in violation of a children and youth agency safety
plan to not allow Leitzel near the child. Leitzel, a Caucasian, referred to the biracial
baby with racial slurs prior to and after the killing.
In 2006, Ferentino secured a first-degree murder conviction in Commonwealth v.
Joseph Gacha for the murder of reigning Luzerne County Fair Queen Carrie
Martin. The case involved an innocent victim asleep as her apartment was being
robbed by Gacha and a criminal associate. Through DNA, forensic science and
Blood Spatter evidence the defendant was apprehended and convicted.
Ferentino secured a first-degree murder conviction in the domestic violence murder
case of Commonwealth v. Donnell Buckner. After Kewaii Rogers-Buckner secured
a protection from abuse order barring her estranged husband from her home, he
entered the home and executed her while her three children ages 12, 11 & 9 stood in
between them. The trial included the children’s testimony and a harrowing 911 call.
In 2012, Ferentino secured a first-degree murder conviction in the matter of
Commonwealth v. John Stone. There, Stone pummeled and hacked his girlfriend to
death in his kitchen with a hatchet. He claimed intoxication as a defense.
In 2017, Attorney Ferentino secured convictions on five counts of Attempted Murder
of Law Enforcement Officers in Commonwealth v. Scott Sargent for the nationally
reported active shooting incident at Wal-Mart in Pennsylvania.
In 2016, Ferentino Secured convictions against Wanda Lee Balcacer and Anthony
“Hazard” Edwards for the double attempted execution murders of two young victims
named “Izzy” and “Chyna”. The shootings left the victims permanently injured -
one wheel chair bound and another with paralysis.
In 2020, Com v. Cunningham, Cortes, Long & Hall, four youths conspired to kill
one of the defendants’ grandfathers and rob his safe. The killing involved over forty
stab wounds and a beating with a golf club. Ferentino convicted all four youths.

Current Cases

Ferentino is currently handling eight pending homicide cases.
Ferentino represents Dawn Drexel mother of Brittanee Drexel, a 17 year old who
disappeared in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 2009. In 2022, Brittanee’s remains
were found, and Defendant, Raymond Moody has been arrested and is set to face
homicide and kidnapping charges. Ferentino has and will continue to coordinate with
prosecutors and the victim’s family throughout the proceedings.
In the Fall of 2022, Ferentino is set to try the convenient store killing of a front-line
worker/clerk during the Covid-19 pandemic who was shot point blank range by a
masked gunman. The gunman was captured through a chance encounter with law
enforcement, video surveillance, cell phone technology, tire mark matching, and
DNA in Com v. Jafet Rodriguez.
Ferentino is also prosecuting the high profile killing of an inmate by another inmate
in the State Correctional Institute in Dallas, Pennsylvania. He is also prosecuting a
prison guard for his reckless and neglectful conduct prior to and after the killing
in Com v. Pierce & Martinez.

Media

In 2017, Attorney Ferentino was a featured legal analyst in the ID Network
worldwide broadcast documentary “Cosby: An American Scandal”. In 2019,
Ferentino was featured in the nationally broadcast “Capturing Chris Watts” on Reelz
network. In 2020, Ferentino appeared in the documentary Killing Fields - The Aaron
Hernandez Story on Reelz. He is set to appear in several national network
broadcasts. Ferentino is also a co-host of the “Lawyering Up” and Case by Case
podcasts featuring interviews and analysis on national, state and local law matters.
Attorney Ferentino was named a Rising Star in Philadelphia Magazine’s Super
Lawyers publication. He has received recognition in the local and national media
and has been the recipient of several awards.
In 2022, Ferentino has appeared on nationally televised broadcasts regarding the
Drexel case and prosecution. Ferentino appeared on Good Morning America and
will appear in upcoming 20/20 specials on ABC.

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