Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 128
Commissioner Cerilli won’t comment on campaign money from dead man tied to massage parlor prostitution ring
Westmoreland County Commissioner Gina Cerilli on Monday refused to comment on $1,900 in donations her campaign received from a deceased family friend implicated in a human trafficking and prostitution ring at area massage parlors. According to campaign finance records, Cerilli received four donations from Henry “Sonny” Caruso dating to 2015,...
GOP commissioner candidate challenges ballot order selection for Westmoreland primary
Members of Westmoreland County’s Elections Board could meet this week to consider allegations of impropriety made by a Republican candidate for county commissioner over a lottery that chose the ballot order for May’s primary. John Ventre, one of seven GOP commissioner candidates seeking two nominations this spring, wants a do-over....
Ballot positions picked for Westmoreland primary election in May
Dan Galbraith hopes his luck is better in two months, when voters go to the polls and nominate Republican candidates for Hempfield supervisor. He was one of a handful of the more than 500 candidates running for office this year who gathered Wednesday at the Westmoreland County Courthouse to draw...
Arnold woman who missed court date related to New Kensington cop killing turns herself in
It turns out, an Arnold woman likely wasn’t on the lam when she failed to appear in court for a hearing earlier this week. She just didn’t know when she was supposed to be in court. Lisa Harrington, 33, told a judge she believed her hearing on Monday had been...
North Huntingdon doctor charged in connection with overdose deaths will be evaluated
A North Huntingdon family doctor charged with over-prescribing drugs to two patients who died from overdoses in 2016 may not be competent to stand trial, his lawyer said in court documents filed Tuesday. Dr. Michel Toret, 72, of Jeannette is awaiting trial on two charges of drug delivery resulting in...
Attorney seeks more time to file amended appeal for Loyalhanna man convicted in 2009 shooting deaths
The lawyer for a Loyalhanna man on death row for killing his mother, sister and aunt a decade ago wants more time to file an amended appeal. Defense attorney Brian Aston said he needs two months to contact and interview witnesses as well as review more than 20,000 pages of...
Construction of Odin View Apartments in Hempfield expected to begin this spring
Westmoreland County Housing Authority officials have the additional $1 million needed to build a low-income senior citizen housing complex in Hempfield. Construction of the proposed Odin View Apartments is expected to begin this spring now that the last portion of funding needed for the $13.1 million project has been secured....
Loyalhanna man gets 1 year probation on animal cruelty charge
A Loyalhanna man will serve one year probation for shooting his brother’s dog. Walter Buchinsky’s mixed-breed pet Fluffy was shot in the left leg June 10. The dog survived. Buchinsky’s brother and neighbor, Robert Buchinsky, 60, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty in court Monday. Prosecutors dismissed...
Arnold woman a no-show for hearing related to killing of New Kensington cop
An Arnold woman awaiting trial on charges she helped the man accused of shooting New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw during a traffic stop in late 2017 is on the run. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Lisa Harrington on Monday after she failed to appear in court for a...
Westmoreland inmates reach record detox level in February
More than 80 percent of new inmates lodged at Westmoreland County Prison in February were addicted to drugs or alcohol. Warden John Walton on Monday told members of the county’s prison board that inmates who needed detoxification services hit an all-time high, raising concerns the drug epidemic that has plagued...
Westmoreland County looking for longtime ballot-casters for state Voters Hall of Fame
Westmoreland County voters who have cast ballots in the last 50 or more general elections could be honored this year as Hall of Famers. Pennsylvania’s Department of State Elections Bureau has inducted more than 23,000 residents in the Voters Hall of Fame, including 292 from Westmoreland County. To be considered,...
Jury convicts driver of third-degree murder in 2016 East Huntingdon pedestrian death
Jurors deliberated about three hours Friday before convicting a New Stanton man of third-degree murder in the death of an East Huntingdon pedestrian on Christmas Eve 2016. Matthew Ramsay, 31, was found guilty of being under the influence of drugs when he deliberately veered his car across traffic on Ruffsdale-Alverton...
Jury convicts Latrobe man of third-degree murder in robbery-turned-homicide case
A Westmoreland County jury Friday convicted a Latrobe man of a lesser charge of third-degree murder for his role in a robbery plot that turned deadly when a Good Samaritan was gunned down as he attempted to intervene. Colin Gearhart, 19, was also found guilty of robbery and conspiracy counts...
Detective: Latrobe teen knew about robbery plan that resulted in death
Westmoreland County investigators said that despite claims that he wanted to stop a robbery at his own home, a 17-year-old Latrobe teen allowed the plot to go forward, and his friend was shot and killed. Detective Ray Dupilka testified Thursday in the third day of the second-degree murder trial of...
Westmoreland commissioner endorses chief of staff in Republican primary
Westmoreland County Commissioner Charles Anderson on Thursday endorsed his chief of staff, Sean Kertes, as his replacement. Kertes, 32, of Greensburg, has worked for Anderson, a two-term Republican commissioner, since 2016. Anderson announced earlier this year he will not run for re-election and will retire at year’s end. “From my...
Driver accused of killing East Huntingdon pedestrian declines to testify at his trial
During a pre-dawn Christmas morning interrogation with police, Matthew Ramsay insisted he didn’t know he hit and killed a pedestrian hours earlier in East Huntingdon. Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Kevin Wheelden testified Thursday that Ramsay appeared sluggish and tired and spoke with slurred speech as he was questioned by police...
Testimony places alleged murder weapon in Latrobe man’s home
The alleged murder weapon and two other guns had been seen in the home of a Latrobe man who prosecutors contend helped plot a robbery that left another friend dead, according to testimony Wednesday in the trial of Colin Gearhart. Gearhart, 19, is charged with second-degree murder and other offenses...
Westmoreland primary could see nearly 500 candidates running for 173 elected offices
Nearly 500 candidates are expected to appear on the May 21 primary ballots in Westmoreland County. Elections bureau officials on Wednesday made public the complete list of candidates seeking 173 elected offices this year. Republican and Democratic voters will nominate candidates for state and county judges, county commissioners and row...
Trial begins for man accused of killing East Huntingdon pedestrian
Jolene Cummins said her husband was excited to finally spend Christmas Eve with his family. Having previously been on call for the holidays, Joseph Cummins had a new job and for the first time in years did not have to work. He prepared to head to church with his wife...
Defense attorney says client didn’t intend to be involved in Latrobe murder
The lawyer for a Latrobe man told Westmoreland County jurors Tuesday his 19-year-old client never intended to be involved in a murder. Defense attorney Michael DeMatt conceded that Colin Gearhart was present but was not involved with the robbery and shooting that left a friend dead in front of his...
Trial set to begin for motorist accused of killing East Huntingdon pedestrian
Opening statements and testimony will begin Wednesday in the third-degree murder trial of a New Stanton motorist charged with being under the influence of drugs when he hit and killed a pedestrian walking his dog on Christmas Eve 2016. Jurors were seated Tuesday in the case against Matthew Ramsay, 31,...
Patricia Fritz announces bid for commissioner, while her former boss files to run again for Westmoreland sheriff
Embattled Westmoreland County Sheriff Jonathan Held and his former chief deputy filed campaign documents Tuesday to run for public office. Held, a Hempfield Republican, will seek a third term as the sheriff while state prosecutors prepare to retry him on public corruption charges. He is accused of forcing on-duty deputies...
Suspects in Monessen shooting reject plea deals
Two men awaiting a retrial in connection with a shooting nearly two years ago in Monessen rejected plea bargains on Monday and said they want a jury to decide their fates. Joseph “Jo Jo” Heath and Rashawn Ford, both of Monessen, have disputed charges that they were involved in the...
Trial to begin for third defendant in fatal drug dealer robbery in Latrobe
Opening statements will begin Tuesday in the second-degree murder trial of a Latrobe man accused of participating in a plot to rob a Pittsburgh-area drug dealer. The plan went awry, according to investigators, and 20-year-old Daniel McNerny of Latrobe was shot and killed. A jury was seated on Monday to...
Defendant in Greensburg drug death case to be released from jail after completing treatment
An Irwin man jailed last week along with two others in connection with a fatal overdose of a man in Greensburg will be released from jail as he awaits his trial. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani on Monday modified the bond that held Francesco Ziegler, 28, in...
