Pocono News Section

Sentence for Rice Township Murder

Sentence for Rice Township Murder - Monday, November 10, 2008 at 5:25PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Monday, Nov 10, 2008 @ 05:25pm EST
He gunned down his family, and today, he found out how long he'll spend in jail. A judge sentenced 63-year-old Charles Oleski of Rice Township today in Luzerne County Court.

Oleski killed his wife and only son, and he was sentenced to no less than 25 years in prison. He didn't say anything after finding out his sentence. Dorothy Griffith, Maureen Oleski's cousin says, "Now I'm glad it turned out the way it did. I hope we can get some healing out of this."

She clutched a picture of Christian after hearing the sentence. Back in January, Charles gunned down his wife and only son.

It’s something family members say was devastating, but they say justice was served. Maureen Oleski's cousin, Carol Yochem says, "This was for you today Maureen. You're in the hands of god."
Charles Oleski was a former Rice Township Supervisor. He was working for PNC Bank when lost his job days before he killed his wife and son.

Police say the family's relationship was deteriorating. Friends of Charles Oleski say the murder was out of character. Patricia Simms of Rice Township knew Charles as a neighbor for years. Simms says, "What happened in the courtroom of course didn't go, you know, the way we would want it, but either way it's tragic all around for both sides of the family. You know, a lot of people are hurting because of it."

In the courtroom, Charles Oleski said he was sorry for what he did. But he's never given a reason why he shot and killed his family.

Oleski also served on Rice Township's Zoning Board for years. The most time he could serve in state prison with this sentence is 50 years.