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...