Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 115
Westmoreland County controller critical of new workers compensation insurance contract
Westmoreland County Controller Jeffrey Balzer on Friday said a decision by county commissioners to rehire a private insurance company was a “sham.” Commissioners this week unanimously voted to approve a one-year, $1.09 million contract to the Housing and Redevelopment Insurance Exchange to oversee and pay out large workers’ compensation claims....
Jeannette woman convicted of third-degree murder in boyfriend’s death
A 39-year-old Jeannette woman was convicted Thursday of third-degree murder for the violent beating death more than three years ago of her 19-year-old boyfriend. Jurors in Westmoreland County deliberated more than three hours before finding that Crystal Belle was guilty of a lesser charge. Prosecutors asked for a first-degree murder...
Appeal denied for Latrobe man convicted for 2016 murder
A Westmoreland County judge on Tuesday rejected the appeal of a Latrobe man serving a 20-year prison sentence for the murder of a friend during a botched robbery. Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio in a 39-page opinion found there was sufficient evidence to support the third-degree murder conviction against...
North Huntingdon man acquitted of strangulation charge
A North Huntingdon man was found not guilty Tuesday of charges he tried to strangle his 13-year-old daughter during a confrontation last year at his former home in Latrobe. After two hours of deliberations, a Westmoreland County jury found Samuel Farrier, 46, guilty of one lesser, misdemeanor count of simple...
Jeannette murder victim had more than 100 wounds, pathologist says
Khalil Parker sustained more than 100 different injuries that caused him to bleed to death, a Westmoreland County jury was told Tuesday. Forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht testified in the fourth day of the first-degree murder trial of Crystal Belle, 39, that Parker, found dead June 11, 2016, in Belle’s...
Arnold man to serve up to 6 years on drug, gun charges
An Arnold man pleaded guilty Monday in Westmoreland County Court to drug and gun charges resulting from an arrest two years ago. Police said that on Sept. 8, 2017, while attempting to arrest Travis James Lasko Jr. on a parole revocation warrant, they found drugs, cash and an unlicensed firearm...
Connellsville man sentenced in Donegal fun center burglary
A Connellsville man will serve up to six years in prison for the burglary of the Caddy Shack Family Fun Center more than three years ago in Donegal. Brian Reed Mansberry, 44, pleaded guilty Monday to charges of burglary and conspiracy for the Sept. 16, 2016, heist in which police...
North Huntingdon man’s assault trial starts
Two teen daughters of a North Huntingdon man told a Westmoreland County jury Monday their father physically assaulted them as he stormed into a violent rage at their mother’s Latrobe home last year. Samuel Farrier, 46, is on trial on a felony charge of strangulation and misdemeanor counts of simple...
Police detective, serologist tell jurors blood found throughout 2016 Jeannette murder scene
The detective who processed the Jeannette home where police said 19-year-old Khalil Parker was bludgeoned to death in 2016 testified Monday he could not say when the dozens of blood-soaked items found in the residence were deposited there. Retired Westmoreland County Detective Hugh Shearer told jurors during the third day...
Former GOP challengers support Doug Chew for Westmoreland commissioner
Republican Doug Chew, one of four candidates seeking three positions on the Westmoreland County board of commissioners, was endorsed Thursday by three former challengers. Republicans John Ventre, Heather Cordial and Paul Kosko threw their support to Chew in the general election. Chew and Republican Sean Kertes finished atop the six-candidate...
Shards of bloody snow shovel introduced in Jeannette murder trial
Seven pieces of a shattered and blood-covered snow shovel were discovered in the basement of the Jeannette home where police claim a 19-year-old Allegheny County man was bludgeoned to death in 2016. Retired Westmoreland County Detective Hugh Shearer testified a larger, hard plastic handle portion of the same shovel was...
Defense for suspect accused of killing Brian Shaw wants background info withheld
A Westmoreland County judge ruled Friday that lawyers for the man facing a potential death penalty in connection with the 2017 fatal shooting of New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw must turn over to prosecutors a report detailing why his life should be spared should he be found guilty. Defense...
Bridgeport store owner gets prison time in stolen grocery scheme
The owner of a mom-and-pop grocery store near Mt. Pleasant will serve up to 23 months in jail after he pleaded guilty Friday to selling merchandise stolen from other retail outlets and improperly cashing checks for customers. Melvin “Beanie” McCloy, 67, was arrested in January following a three-year investigation into...
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ defense cited in Jeannette woman’s murder trial
The lawyer for a Jeannette woman on trial for the murder of her teenage boyfriend told jurors Thursday the fatal beating was a result of sexual escapades between the couple. Defense lawyer Brian Aston in his opening statement said Crystal Belle and her live-in boyfriend Khalil Parker, 19, formerly of...
Westmoreland commissioners race: Candidates discuss county finances, taxesVideo
Candidates for Westmoreland County commissioner discussed their views on various subjects with the Tribune-Review, which will be published weekly leading up to the Nov. 5 election. Up first are excerpts from their take on the county’s financial situation and taxes. Full versions of their responses can be seen on video...
Judge denies appeal of Jeannette man convicting of assaulting jail guards
The appeal of a Jeannette man’s conviction and sentence for assaults on guards at Westmoreland County Prison has been denied. Derrick Deon Cobbs, 42, following a jury trial in 2012, was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault and was sentenced to serve 10 to 20 years in prison. The...
Murder trial to begin for Jeannette’s Crystal Belle, accused of killing teen boyfriend
Testimony will begin Thursday in the first-degree murder trial for a Jeannette woman charged with the fatal beating of her teenage boyfriend nearly three years ago. A 12-person jury, along with two alternates, was selected Wednesday to hear evidence in the case against Crystal Belle, who police claim bludgeoned to...
Youngwood man gets prison term for robbery of female motorist
A Youngwood man will serve up to three years in prison for robbing a motorist. Chance D. Goodlin, 20, pleaded guilty Tuesday to robbery and attempted robbery in connection with the May 3, 2018, incident in Youngwood. Police said Goodlin jumped in front of a vehicle as the female driver...
Trials delayed for 2 accused of helping man charged in Brian Shaw’s death
Trials for the father and a cousin of the Harrison man accused in the fatal shooting death two years ago of New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw were postponed until December. Westmoreland County prosecutors said Tuesday a scheduling conflict made it impossible to try the case against Gregory Baucum Jr....
Judge: Penn Township man cannot use drunkenness as defense for firing at police
A Penn Township man charged with firing a rifle at police will not be allowed to argue to jurors at his upcoming attempted murder trial that his actions are less serious because he was drunk. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger ruled during a hearing Friday that jurors...
Greensburg man appeals rape conviction, wants new trial
A Greensburg man serving a 12-year prison sentence for the rape of an unconscious woman claims he should receive a new trial. Benjamin Melvin Davis, 22, in an appeal filed Friday, argued that evidence presented at his June trial did not support the guilty verdict. “… In particular, the credibility...
Penn Township man gets prison time for ax attack
A Penn Township man will serve up to 10 years in prison for attacking his former girlfriend and her boyfriend with an ax last year. Benson William Perry, 37, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault and burglary in connection with a March 2018 incident in North Irwin. Police said...
Son of Lower Burrell judge sentenced to 6 to 23 months in jail for part in drug ring
The son of a Lower Burrell district judge and a nephew of Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck will serve up to 23 months in jail for what prosecutors said was his role in a million-dollar marijuana distribution ring. Stephen Yakopec III, 29, of Lower Burrell told a Westmoreland County...
West Newton woman pleads guilty to arson
A West Newton woman will serve up to two years in prison for setting fire to her boyfriend’s pickup truck. Marian Warman, 19, pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of arson, terroristic threats and simple assault in connection with the April 6 incident. Police said Warman and Brian L. Palamara argued...
Jeannette man charged in deadly stadium shooting ‘acted in self-defense,’ attorney saysVideo
The lawyer for a Jeannette man charged with the shooting death of another man this month outside McKee Stadium in the city said his client acted in self-defense. At a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Jeannette District Judge Joseph DeMarchis ordered Greg Harper, 40, held for court on charges of criminal homicide...
