Despite her arrest on Wednesday, state Sen. Jane Orie, R-40th, who represents a part of Butler County, must be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

But it came as a shock to many people in this county that Orie, who projects a commitment to carrying out her legislative duties and running her office strictly according to state law, would be accused of something seriously at odds with that.

In fact, the senator, who relinquished her duties as Senate majority whip until the case against her is resolved, is charged with theft of services, criminal conspiracy, and three counts each of tampering with evidence and violating the state public official ethics act.

Her sister, Janine Orie, 55, who is employed as a chief administrative assistant for the Ories' sister, state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin, also was charged with theft-of-services and criminal-conspiracy.

The charges against Jane and Janine Orie stem from the sisters' alleged use of staff on the state payroll to help run the 2009 Orie Melvin high court campaign. However, the charges against Jane Orie cover the period from 2001 through last November. They accuse the senator of using state employees, office space and equipment plus the "authority and resources of her office to further the pecuniary and political interests" of herself and Orie Melvin.

The 66-page filing by Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr.'s office describes "an atmosphere of abuse and corruption that permeated" Jane Orie's Senate office, alleging "hypocrisy" between her public persona and how she operated internally.

Orie Melvin has not been charged. Jane and Janine Orie face preliminary hearings on May 19.

At a time when the ongoing state Bonusgate grand jury investigation has continued to command headlines and, periodically, produce new disclosures, charges and allegations involving both major political parties, the Allegheny County grand jury, whose April 1 presentment led to the Orie arrests, had remained outside the public spotlight.

Few people in Western Pennsylvania probably were even aware that the Orie-focused probe was under way, even though Zappala confirmed in January he was investigating claims by a former Jane Orie intern.

Although the accuracy of the evidence and allegations against the senator and her sister will be for a criminal court jury to decide, it hardly could have been anticipated that so many people closely associated with the senator had collected and maintained such a volume of information detrimental to the senator.

The grand jury disclosed that at least 15 current or former Jane Orie staff members testified that they either participated in or observed non-legislative work being conducted during business hours, when they should only have been doing state-related work.

According to the presentment, the orders for staffers to do political and campaign work during their regular work hours came from Jane Orie; her chief of staff, Jamie Pavlot; and Janine Orie.

Pavlot has become one of the most important, if not the most important, witness against the Ories, having been granted immunity from prosecution for her testimony.

Considering the evidence of corruption that the Bonusgate investigation has uncovered and the evidence presented during the Bonusgate-related trial of former state Rep. Mike Veon of Beaver County, perhaps the chiefs of staff of every state legislator ought to be granted immunity from prosecution and be questioned by the grand jury about whether similar wrongdoing existed within their offices.

There might be a sometimes-fuzzy line in legislative offices as to what is and what is not campaign-related, but the Bonusgate probe has turned up flagrant violations.

The Orie case is eye-opening, and there might be further troubling findings to be uncovered.

"I am confident that I will be exonerated despite what will continue to be the obsessive and vendetta-drawn efforts of Mr. Zappala and those beholden to him," Jane Orie told a Pittsburgh newspaper. Perhaps her prediction will play out.

In the meantime, Butler County residents represented by Orie have cause for concern that they might have been betrayed by someone whom they respected as one of the "good ones" in Harrisburg.

Unfortunately for Jane Orie, regardless of how her case plays out, her up-to-now solid record of legislative service will be forever tainted. Even if she is exonerated of all charges, a degree of suspicion will remain in the minds of some of her constituents about the attitude and possible arrogance that dominated the operation of her office.

If it is proven that Orie violated the public trust, she will be deserving of punishment not unlike what Veon faces when he is sentenced.

The good any lawmaker has done should have no bearing on what his or her punishment will be after being found guilty of — or pleading guilty to — violations of laws.

Those who recognize, understand and appreciate the positive accomplishments Jane Orie has pursued during her legislative career are hopeful that the dark cloud currently enveloping her will eventually be found to have been unwarranted.

For now, however, her arrest is but another jolt to Pennsylvania residents' trust in their General Assembly.