Political consultant Thomas E. Severson, accused of threatening Northampton County Councilman Ron Angle at a funeral Mass, today lost his bid to have a special prosecutor assigned to hear the case.

Senior Judge Lawrence Brenner denied a legal motion filed by Severson’s attorney, George Heitczman of Bethlehem.

Pen Argyl police charged Severson in March with making terroristic threats, simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. Angle claims Severson on Dec. 14, during Mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church, made “several menacing comments” to him. Court records say the comments “indicated (Severson) wanted to physically assault, as well as kill” Angle. Further, records say, Severson swore at Angle.

District Attorney John M. Morganelli recused himself from the matter because he and Severson, who does business as Precision Marketing and as Political Strategies Inc., are friends. Severson has worked on past Morganelli campaigns and is working on his 2008 bid to unseat incumbent Republican state Attorney Tom Corbett in the November general election.

The attorney general’s office has been appointed to prosecute Severson. A preliminary hearing is set for May 20. Senior Deputy Attorney General Marc Costanzo has been assigned to handle the case.
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