Merla: Please send your 'kind words' to judge In letter, describes past two years as 'one horrible experience after another' BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer John Merla KEYPORT - In case you were waiting, now is your chance to help John Merla. According to defense attorney Michael Pappa, the former mayor mailed out "dozens" of letters last week, asking residents and friends to write character letters to William J. Martini, the federal judge who will sentence Merla on May 8. Included with the letter are self-addressed envelopes. Merla, who faces an estimated 24 to 30 months in prison for crimes of government corruption, admitted in a federal court on Jan. 17 to accepting a total of $24,500 in bribes. Because of Merla's plea agreement, he will only serve time for accepting one $2,500 cash bribe. "I've tried my best to always do the right thing by everyone," wrote Merla, "however now I'm faced with being in a position that I wouldn't wish on anyone. By listing a series of unfortunate events, Merla appears to be looking for sympathy in his letter to residents. "A week after getting divorced, I was arrested for political corruption," wrote Merla. "As a result, I lost my job. Then in March, one month later, my aunt was killed on the N.J. Turnpike in a car accident. On April 23, 2005, my best friend and mother died after a terrible bout with cancer. "My life came tumbling down. It was just one terrible experience after another. I would ask myself why. What would happen next?" Pappa said his client needs the character letters for his pre-sentencing report. "It's not unusual for this kind of letter to be sent out to get letters of support for the judge," Pappa said. "This is done routinely," Pappa added. "The reason it got sent out like this is there's a deadline for the U.S. Probation Department." Pappa said Merla has mailed out dozens of letters. "He's gotten excellent feedback," Pappa said. Councilman George Walling reacted on Monday. "I just hope the people in town are smart enough to realize that this man has lied so much he wouldn't recognize the truth if he tripped over it," Walling said. "For a gentleman who sat in the people's house and said he was innocent and he would have his day in court, it's just amazing," Walling continued. Former Councilman Joseph Wedick served with Merla for several years. "I'm just basically waiting to see the videotapes," Wedick said. "Because the people need to see for themselves whether or not the U.S. Attorney had a case to begin with. Mr. Merla's supporters should welcome this effort to get the videotapes out there." "So we shall see," Wedick continued. "Let's get it out there. I'm surprised there isn't a movement afoot to make that the prime effort. This way everybody can see. My understanding is that the U.S. Attorney had a case. Maybe he didn't. Let's see."