Pair want judge to dismiss criminal case over Bethlehem Township street light project

Two men accused of bilking Bethlehem Twp., Northampton Co., out of $800,000 want the case tossed out.

Robert Kearns and his business partner, P.J. McLaine, made a deal with the township, promising to save money on street lights, investigators said.

The men, however, kept the money without doing much work, officials said.

Now, they have filed a motion for the case to be dismissed, saying it doesn't belong in criminal court and that the township should pursue a civil claim.