The lawyer representing Robert Seman is asking a judge to order law enforcement officers and other investigators or prosecutors related to the case to not talk about the pending rape and bribery case against Seman.


They call it a gag order and Attorney Tom Zena says something like that is needed because the publicity in the rape and bribery case are not the only problem.  He says it's the effect of what he calls "uncharged suspicions" in a pending matter that's becoming highly prejudicial to defendant Seman.


Those "uncharged suspicions" are related to the Powersway Fire that killed 10-year-old Corrine Gump, and her grandparents, Bill and Judy Schmidt back on March 30th.


Corrine died just hours before she was set to testify at the trial of her accused rapist Robert Seman.


Seman has never been charged as a suspect in the fire.  In fact, the cause of the fire still has not been determined, and officially has not even been termed suspicious.


However, Seman's home was searched shortly after the fire with several agencies including the State Fire Marshal involved.


Detectives and fire officials never said what they were looking for or what the search was actually in relation to.


Seman's attorney feels extensive media coverage along with statements made by the prosecutor's office in the days following the fire will jeopardize his clients chance to have a fair trial. 


Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Maureen Sweeney will have a hearing on the gag order issue on July 2nd.