The tossing of an indictment is unusual in federal court.
So is the criticism that the U.S. district judge, Stephanie L. Haines, of Johnstown, issued in ordering the release of the defendant, Robert E. Noble, 42, who represented himself and had been under indictment for three years and 10 months.
Haines faulted the U.S. Attorney's Office in Erie for taking too long to bring the case to trial in violation of federal speedy trial rules.
But Haines, in a rare display of finding fault with a peer on the bench, also blamed the judge originally assigned the case, David S. Cercone, of Pittsburgh, for extending the case for too long by waiting lengthy periods of time to rule on motions and other matters.