Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 124
New Stanton man appealing sentence in deadly hit-run
A New Stanton man convicted of third-degree murder for the Christmas Eve 2016 death of an East Huntingdon pedestrian wants a new trial. Matthew Ramsay, 31, is appealing his conviction, claiming evidence presented at trial in March was not sufficient to support a guilty finding. “While the commonwealth’s evidence may...
Salem woman serving life says addiction to blame for mother’s violent murder
A Salem woman serving life in prison for bludgeoning her mother to death in 2013 wants her story to serve as an example of the horrors of drug addiction, she told a Westmoreland County judge. In a legal appeal, Sarah Vercauteren, 30, contended she received bad advice when she was...
Records will remain sealed in Unity woman’s disappearance
Search warrants related to the disappearance of a Unity woman will remain sealed for the time being, a Westmoreland County judge ruled Thursday. Prosecutors said public disclosure of documents supporting 15 search warrants obtained last year could interfere with the ongoing investigation into the whereabouts and possible death of Cassandra...
Jeannette man pleads guilty to 30 child porn counts
A Jeannette man will remain on house arrest for the next three months after he pleaded guilty Wednesday to possession of child pornography. But Curtis House, 75, faces a potentially long prison sentence as a result of his plea. “You could spend the rest of your life in jail,” said...
MAWC spent more than $100,000 for tests following Beaver Run Reservoir gas well breach
The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County spent more than $100,000 on air and water quality tests conducted in response to gas well breach in late January at Beaver Run Reservoir, officials said. “We will forward those bills to CNX,” authority manager Michael Kukura said. CNX Resources, which operates the 55...
Man convicted in Latrobe drug dealer robbery-turned-homicide files court appeal
A Latrobe man serving up to 20 years in prison for his role in a robbery and murder wants a judge to overturn his third-degree murder conviction. Colin Gearhart, 21, in an appeal filed this week, said evidence used to convict him in a jury trial in March did not...
Greensburg woman serving life sentence claims she can’t leave prison for appeal hearing
Westmoreland County prosecutors argue a former Greensburg woman serving a life prison sentence for her role in the murder of a former boyfriend in 2006 should appear in person for her upcoming appeal hearing. Jennifer Vinsek, 37, contends she should receive a new trial based on allegations that her former...
Lawyer: Latrobe vet with PTSD wants to withdraw attempted murder plea for attack on wife, others
A Latrobe man told a Westmoreland County judge Tuesday he wants to withdraw a guilty plea to charges he attempted to kill three women in 2017. Scott A. Matuszky, 47, said he received bad legal advice from his former lawyer when he pleaded guilty last year to attempted murder, aggravated...
Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling could favor doctors in defamation suit against Excela Health
Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a lawyer for Excela Health waived attorney-client privilege when he turned over a confidential document to a private media relations firm hired to oversee publicity related to allegations that patients were subjected to unnecessary cardiac procedures. Attorneys for doctors George Bousamra and Ehab...
New York woman says PA troopers conducted improper search of vehicle, wants criminal charges dismissed
A lawyer for a New York woman arrested near Donegal following a traffic stop last year on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in court Monday claimed an improper search of her vehicle led to the discovery of $500,000 of heroin stashed in a hidden compartment. Defense attorney Komron Jon Maknoon said police...
Driver gets probation, house arrest for crash that killed Washington Township fireman
An East Huntingdon man will serve five years on probation for causing a fatal three-vehicle crash two years ago that killed a Washington Township firefighter. Andrew Davidovich Jr., 21, pleaded guilty Monday to charges of involuntary manslaughter and other related offenses for the June 9, 2017, crash on Route 66...
Westmoreland’s recordkeeper looks toward balance of career
In May 1979, Ray Levay graduated from Saint Vincent College. Less than a month later, he was working in a tiny cubicle at the Westmoreland County Courthouse, compiling government financial records for an annual report. Now 40 years later, Levay, known as “RT,” is doing the same work but for...
Westmoreland County could face legal action over suicide of suspended jail guard
Westmoreland County officials could face legal action from the jailed widow of a suspended corrections officer who committed suicide in November, according to documents the Tribune-Review received through a public-records request. Pittsburgh attorney Jim Burn, who specializes in workers compensation claims, in March sent letters to the county commissioners and...
Murrysville photographer never stopped capturing moments
David Adams loved photography, so much so that even after his job at local newspapers came to an end, he continued to work in the field. “He just took prom pictures last month at Spectrum Charter School in Monroeville,” his wife Bonnijean said. “He just liked the interaction. He was...
Westmoreland County seeks job applicants for open positions
Westmoreland County is looking to hire. The county has released a list of vacant positions it is seeking to fill, including a number of open jobs at Regional Youth Services Center for its juvenile detention center and shelter programs. New employees are being sought for one full-time and two part-time...
Blight reduction strategies up for discussion at Westmoreland County seminar
Community leaders and real estate experts will convene next week at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg to discuss strategies to reduce blight. The June 25 seminar will feature local and national speakers and training to provide insight on understanding property market dynamics, analyzing data to understand neighborhood conditions, strategic...
Pennsylvania approves first mini casino; Westmoreland Mall site still on track
State gaming officials this week approved the first license for a mini casino to operate in Pennsylvania. A vote is expected in the coming months to finalize plans for a proposed facility at Westmoreland Mall. “It will be coming up over the next two, three or four months. It’s on...
Westmoreland Election Bureau gives final certification to all primary races, except Norwin School Board
Westmoreland County’s election board has given final certification to all but one of last month’s primary election results. No challenges were lodged against the final tallies recorded last week and as a result the field for the November general election is mostly set when votes are cast for the board...
Driver sentenced up to 40 years in prison for fatal Christmas Eve crash in East Huntingdon
Jolene Cummins said Christmas was always a joyful day for her family. That changed on Christmas Eve 2016, when her husband of 25 years was killed as he ran that afternoon with his dog near the family’s home in East Huntingdon. Police say the man driving the car that hit...
Third man convicted of 2016 Latrobe murder gets 10 to 20 years in prison
The third of three men convicted in the January 2016 murder of Daniel McNerny was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison Monday. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio said she would not overrule a jury verdict that found Colin Gearhart guilty of third-degree murder. Prosecutors sought a...
Judge denies accused cop killer Rahmael Holt’s request for outside jury
Jury selection in the capital murder trial of Rahmael Sal Holt will begin in Westmoreland County, but could be moved to another county if finding impartial jurors proves to be too difficult, a judge ruled Monday. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rita Hathaway rejected a defense request to move...
Man gets early parole in fatal Derry crash
A New Alexandria man convicted late last year of causing a fatal car crash in Derry that killed a 71-year-old woman will be paroled nearly five months early. Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani on Monday ruled Samuel Grace III, 22, will be released from custody July 10 after serving seven...
White Oak man, head of alleged gambling ring, wants charges dismissed
The patriarch of a White Oak family charged last summer with operating a multi-county illegal gambling ring contends the criminal case against him should be dismissed for a lack of evidence. In court documents filed Friday, the attorney for Robert Biros, 83, asked that a preliminary hearing be conducted to...
Jury acquits Loyalhanna man charged with rape
A Westmoreland County jury deliberated just 20 minutes Friday afternoon before it acquitted a Loyalhanna man of rape and other offenses in connection with allegations made three years ago by a teen boy. The jury found Michael Snyder, 29, not guilty of all five counts charged. “This case was all...
Greensburg man convicted of rape, second suspect awaits trial
A Greensburg man was convicted Thursday of the rape of an unconscious woman who claimed she was drugged and unable to fend off two attackers last year. Westmoreland County jurors deliberated about two hours Thursday before finding Benjamin Davis, 22, guilty of felony rape and conspiracy counts. Two women, ages...
