Paul Peirce stories, Page 54
$1 million Cash 5 lottery ticket sold in Fayette County
Tina Harris, owner of the Chalk Hill Market in rural Fayette County, said a $1 million jackpot-winning Pennsylvania Lottery Cash 5 ticket purchased Monday at the store is the largest winning ticket ever sold there. “Oh my God! That’s awesome it was sold here, and good for whoever bought it...
Hempfield man killed in Ligonier Township bicycle-vehicle crash
The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office said a Hempfield man was killed in a crash along Route 30 in Ligonier Township Tuesday morning. Jason R. Zollinger, 38, died when the bicycle he was riding eastbound on Route 30 was struck by car at about 9:15 a.m. The coroner’s office did not...
Greensburg man sentenced to 4-8 years in prison for assaulting 7-year-old
A judge told a 31-year-old Greensburg man who pleaded guilty Monday to sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl last year that he didn’t want to hear any excuses for the crime. “Judge, I was hallucinating for three days. I was taking methamphetamine and crack cocaine … I didn’t know what I...
Fairfield woman accepts plea deal in animal cruelty case
The owner of a former pet grooming boutique charged with more than 200 counts of animal cruelty avoided a possible 98-year jail sentence Monday by accepting a plea deal that will give her two years probation and require her to pay $5,000 in restitution to a humane organization. Alexsandria Klochak,...
Cops: 4 ‘dragged’ man suffering overdose into Greensburg street instead of calling for help
Four people who were inside a Greensburg home when their friend overdosed allegedly dragged the unconscious man into the street instead of calling for help, city police allege in court documents filed Friday. Deborah A. Carnes, 57, and Timothy J. Fairman, 52, of Greensburg; Matthew T. Caldwell, 45, of Mt....
Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez ordered to be arraigned in Westmoreland in teen sex case
Felipe Vazquez, the suspended Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher who is accused of sexually assaulting a former Scottdale teenager, will be moved from the Allegheny County Jail to Westmoreland County next week to be arraigned on criminal charges. President Judge Rita Donovan Hathaway signed an order Friday authorizing sheriff’s deputies to...
Cops: Murrysville woman accused of illegally recording conversations with court workers
A Murrysville woman is accused of illegally videotaping and recording conversations with Westmoreland County courthouse employees and then posting two conversations on social media, according to a criminal complaint. Jennifer L. Gesuale, 40, is charged with illegal interception of communications and disclosure of intercepted communications. Both are third-degree felonies punishable...
Cops: Greensburg caregiver accused of assaulting patient in emergency room
A Greensburg caregiver for a 62-year-old man with multiple disabilities is accused by police of assaulting him as he was treated in a hospital emergency room. City police charged Margaret J. O’Neill, 47, with neglect of a care dependent person, resisting arrest, defiant trespass and disorderly conduct after the 2:11...
Police charge Delmont man, 79, with firing homemade rifle at neighbor
A 79-year-old Delmont man who had a longstanding grudge against his neighbor shot at him Tuesday with a homemade rifle, borough police said. Terrence Kurhansky was charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, simple assault and illegal possession of a firearm. He was arraigned before night court Judge Tony...
Cops seek Fayette County man in string of armed robberies
Police in Fayette County are asking for the public’s help in locating a Leisenring man wanted for questioning in a string of armed robberies at area convenience stores and gas stations last week. David A. Kramer, 31, is wanted by state police in Belle Vernon and Uniontown and Connellsville City...
No injuries reported in Rostraver mobile home blazeVideo
No injuries were reported Tuesday afternoon when a fire extensively damaged a mobile home in Rostraver. The fire occurred about 12:50 p.m. at the home along Knight Drive in the Port Royal Village, according to dispatchers. “The resident was able to get out of the home without any injury. The...
Hearing for suspect in fatal shooting outside Jeannette football game delayed, moved
The Jeannette man accused of fatally shooting another man outside the crowded city high school stadium earlier this month will have his preliminary hearing at the county courthouse because of security and space issues. Greg A. Harper, 40, of Jeannette, is charged with homicide and reckless endangerment in the shooting...
Cops: North Huntingdon woman, teen tried to steal dog clothes from Walmart
A 26-year-old North Huntingdon woman was arrested Monday after police said she used a 13-year-old girl as an accomplice in the attempted theft of multiple pieces of dog clothing from Walmart. Sarah A. Moore was arraigned before night court District Judge Tony Bompiani on charges of corruption of minors and...
Mt. Pleasant Township man accused of hitting girlfriend with metal pipe
A 43-year-old Mt. Pleasant Township man was arrested for allegedly hitting his girlfriend with a metal pipe Monday, police said. David A. Knopp was arraigned on two counts of aggravated assault and single counts of harassment and simple assault after the 3:45 p.m. incident at his home on Academy Lane....
Former Youngwood worker accused of parking vehicles in floodwater faces trialVideo
Two Youngwood public works employees testified Monday that during a September 2018 flood, another worker admitted he intentionally moved a dump truck and street sweeper into waist-deep water so the borough could collect insurance money to replace the decades-old equipment. After listening to nearly two hours of testimony at a...
Cops: Ohio man who led troopers on chase was under the influence
State police allege an Ohio man was under the influence of marijuana and alcohol Wednesday when he refused to pull over for a traffic stop, leading troopers on a chase for several miles in East Huntingdon Township. Troopers allege in court documents that the driver, Thomas P. Wren, 62, of...
Police investigate burned political signs in HempfieldVideo
State police in Greensburg are trying to identify a bold arsonist who set several political signs on fire along Route 30 in Hempfield during rush hour Wednesday. Troopers responded about 6 p.m. to the south side of Route 30, across from the former site of the Monsour Medical Center, because...
Fayette County man killed in Rostraver crash
A 32-year-old Fayette County man was killed Thursday when his pickup truck collided into the rear of a garbage truck on Route 51 in Rostraver, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha. Donald J. Schultz , who lives in nearby Washington Township, was pronounced dead at the scene of the...
Cops: Greensburg woman accused of assaulting girl
An anonymous complaint to a statewide child abuse hotline led to charges being filed against a Greensburg woman. Detective Sgt. John Swank charged Amarette L. White, 39, with child endangerment and simple assault after interviewing her and the alleged teen victim. Swank reported in court papers that police received a...
3rd cat this summer tests positive for rabies in Westmoreland County
Two more cats in Westmoreland County have tested positive for rabies in separate incidents this month in Irwin and the Mt. Pleasant area, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The recent confirmations make three cases of rabid cats reported in the county this year. In the Mt. Pleasant area...
Cops: NYC man arrested for breaking into Delmont businesses, stealing 2 cars
A New York City man failed in an attempt to convince police he was at Fletcher’s Outdoor Power Equipment Co. in Delmont on Sunday to check on the well being of his father, who he said worked there. Borough police arrested Elquan D. Jones, 26, of Brooklyn, after officers called...
10-year-old alerts family to Donegal Township fireVideo
A 10-year-old Donegal Township girl is being credited for saving her family from their burning mobile home Tuesday morning. Stephen Roadman’s 10-year-old daughter, Abbagail, woke him around 7:30 a.m. and they rushed out of the home on Roadman Lane, he said. “Thank God for her,” he said while watching firefighters...
Uniontown man convicted of possessing 1,181 images of child porn
A Uniontown man who admitted to having more than 1,181 images and videos of child pornography on his home computers was sentenced to serve more than three years in prison Monday. Jason A. Early, 41, was sentenced to three years plus one month in prison, to be followed by 10...
Police: Driver bites Greensburg police officer during traffic stop involving reportedly stolen SUV
A traffic stop in Greensburg on Sunday involving a reportedly stolen vehicle ended up with officers scuffling with the driver, who is accused of biting a patrolman, according to court papers. Cody Storm Vaughan, 29, of Sarver, Butler County, was pulled over at 10:30 p.m. Sunday at the Sheetz convenience...
Belle Vernon man accused of assault, trying to throw woman from moving car
Greensburg police arrested a 43-year-old man on multiple assault charges after he allegedly attacked a woman and tried to throw her out of his moving car early Sunday after they left a bar, city police said. Tony A. Flocker of Belle Vernon was arraigned before Harrison City District Judge Helen...
