BY VINAYA SAKSENA

PROVIDENCE — Audio and video footage was played in court Friday of former Lincoln Town Administrator Jonathan Oster meeting with then-planning board member Robert Picerno — footage that is apparently central to the state’s bribery case against Oster.

In the audio footage, Picerno is heard arriving in Oster’s office, and the pair exchange small talk. When the subject of a piece of town-owned real estate known as the H&H Screw property is broached by Picerno, Oster expresses caution.
“Listen, I’m gonna do that thing next week — the H&H Screw,” the man identified as Picerno said.
“Let me take a look at this,” the man identified as Oster replied. “Everybody’s asking me if you’re in on this.”
“I’m not involved. I’m not involved,” Picerno said. “I’m definitely not.”
He then adds, “I’ve got the check.”
The check Picerno refers to was allegedly the bogus cashier’s check provided for use in a state sting operation against Oster.
Based on information previously reviewed in court, Oster’s questions may have been intended to determine whether Picerno had become “involved” in such an operation.
Oster’s trial, on two charges each of bribery and conspiracy, recently got under way after a prolonged period of deliberations regarding what evidence and witnesses  could 0e used in the case.
The state is alleging that Picerno was soliciting bribes from parties interested in purchasing the H&H Screw property.
The state further alleges that Oster sought to influence town officials to go along with the sale. Oster and Picerno are alleged to have sought payments of $25,000 from potential buyers of the property, in addition to the cost of the land, which was alleged to be significantly discounted.
Among other objections, Oster defense attorney C. Leonard O’Brien had sought to disqualify Assistant District Attorney William Ferland from participating in the prosecution of the case, due to his involvement in the investigation into Oster’s activities that led to the charges he now faces.
Picerno had previously pleaded no contest to bribery and conspiracy charges against him before participating in a sting operation targeting Oster.
Prior to playing for  jurors the footage of a 2002 meeting between Oster and Picerno, Assistant Attorney General Bethany Mactaz-Moore questioned State Police Inspector Elwood Johnson about the authenticity of the state’s audio and video evidence.
 In 2002, Johnson was a state police sergeant involved in the Oster investigation.
Johnson said it was he who held the camera that recorded Picerno walking into Town Hall wearing audio monitoring equipment, allegedly with the intent of giving a fake cashier’s check to Oster.