Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 22
Westmoreland commissioners urged to switch to paper ballots for November election
The Westmoreland County commissioners were urged Tuesday to abandon touch-screen computerized voting at the polls in November in favor of paper ballots. A group of about a half-dozen residents spoke during the commissioners public agenda meeting at the courthouse and claimed the system used by the county since 2020 was...
Attorney for North Huntingdon sex offender claims his client was assaulted at Westmoreland County Prison
A North Huntingdon man who admitted to sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl claimed that he was assaulted at the Westmoreland County Prison while awaiting resolution of his court case, his attorney said Monday. Defense attorney Pat Thomassey pleaded for leniency saying James Gockel, 41, has lived a troubled life that...
Guards at fault for jail cell escape; inmate tampering claims dropped
Westmoreland County officials on Monday said guards failed to ensure a cell door was locked, an oversight that led to an inmate’s escape attempt earlier this month. Three guards were fired by the prison board, although no explanation was given as to the reasons for the terminations. Commissioner Doug Chew,...
Monessen teen appeals prison sentence for classmate’s fatal shooting
A Monessen teen convicted in the killing of a 16-year-old classmate in 2022 claims in an appeal filed Monday that a Westmoreland County judge abused his discretion when he imposed a maximum 25-year prison sentence. Terry Newton, 18, was ordered in July to serve at least eight years in prison...
A ‘flood of ads’: Pa. residents face barrage of political messaging
Political ads are back as an unavoidable part of everyday life in Pennsylvania. On television, they air in 30-second spots during sporting events, late night talk shows, newscasts, daytime soaps and nighttime dramas. While streaming shows or surfing the web, viewers see candidates from both major political parties and special...
Prosecutors won’t drop felony charge in case involving old dog’s oozing 10-inch tumor
A Westmoreland County judge Friday questioned a continued push by prosecutors to seek a jail sentence for a North Belle Vernon man charged with failing to get lifesaving medical care for his aging dog. The case against Dan Karbowsky, 55, has languished for more than two years and appears headed...
Man charged in North Belle Vernon shooting botched by thrown soda can takes plea deal
An attempted homicide charge was dismissed against a Rostraver man accused of firing a shot in the parking lot of a North Belle Vernon gas station. Amire Rodrick Ganoung, 20, pleaded guilty Friday to felony counts of aggravated assault and possessing a firearm without a license and a misdemeanor charge...
Lawsuit claims Westmoreland failed to pay for cost overruns of courthouse parking garage
The construction company hired to rebuild an underground garage at the Westmoreland County Courthouse claims it still is owed nearly $1 million. Carl Walker Construction of Robinson filed a lawsuit this week seeking payment for its work on the project plagued by cost overruns and delays. The company was hired...
Greensburg father pleads guilty for violent incident with autistic son
A Greensburg father pleaded guilty to charges filed in connection with an incident last summer in which, authorities said, he had a physical altercation with his autistic son for the second time since 2017. Finley Michael Steward, 66, was ordered to serve seven years on probation, which includes an 18-month...
Municipal authority to install new billing system to accept more payment options
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County water and sewer customers will see enhanced payment options when a new billing system is implemented in early 2026. Authority board members on Wednesday approved a $350,000 contract with Blair County-based Muni-Link to modernize the system used to bill and communicate with customers, replacing outdated...
Greensburg teen’s lawyer argues armed robbery prosecution endangers community
The attorney for a Greensburg teenager charged in connection with what police said was a violent armed robbery warned Tuesday that continued prosecution in adult court will only teach the juvenile to be a better criminal. Defense attorney Tim Andrews argued that robbery and other related offenses filed against Cayden...
Security review underway after Westmoreland inmate jammed lock with paper to escape cell
Westmoreland officials said a review of security protocols at the county jail is underway after an inmate used a piece of paper to escape from his cell and then assaulted a guard making early-morning rounds last week. Warden Steve Pelesky said the inmate — identified in court documents as John...
Derry Township man pleads guilty to sex assaults of 6 teens
A Derry Township man was ordered to serve up to 40 years in prison for the sexual assaults of six teenage girls last year. Christopher R. Fraser, 20, pleaded guilty to 19 charges in six cases in which he was charged with having sex with girls between the ages of...
Judge to rule if lack of remains prevents continuation of murder case against Thomas Stanko
A Westmoreland County judge will decide early next year whether there is sufficient evidence for the murder case to proceed against a Unity man charged with killing his former girlfriend. Defense attorney Marc Daffner argued during a court appearance Monday for Thomas Stanko, 53, that, because the body of his...
West Newton man to serve decade-long prison term for 3-year crime spree
A West Newton man was ordered to serve up to 10 years in prison for a series of crimes over a three-year period that included an assault, threats made against police and the theft of an American flag from a Madison funeral home. Shayne R. Moore, 33, pleaded guilty to...
Prosecutor calls for jury to decide how Greensburg mother’s mental state impacts attempted murder case
A Westmoreland County prosecutor said Thursday a jury should decide how a Greensburg woman’s mental health issues impacted what police contend was an attempt to kill her 8-year-old daughter with illegal drugs. Assistant District Attorney Jim Lazar said during a pretrial hearing that a pending psychological evaluation of 31-year-old Skye...
Westmoreland DA unveils courthouse retreat for crime victims
It was a pre-teen victim of a sexual assault who two years ago made it clear to Westmoreland prosecutors that the sterile courthouse environment was not a comfortable place to spend time. Victims and their families had few options during court downtime. They could sit outside the courtroom as a...
Guilty plea averts trial for woman accused of running over man with car in Hempfield
A woman pleaded guilty to lesser charges Wednesday in a case brought after she was accused of running over her boyfriend with a car at a Hempfield home last year. Cassidy Christi Colbert, 30, of East McKeesport, was originally charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault, simple assault and other...
Defense contends biased probe led to arrest in New Kensington boy’s death
Lawyers for Brackenridge man facing a potential death penalty if he is convicted of killing of his 9-year-old son contend the investigation that led to his arrest in 2022 was the product of biased prosecutors and based on insufficient evidence. Jean J. Charles, 44, is awaiting trial on charges of...
Judge orders Arnold man accused of fatally stabbing his mother to undergo mental health evaluation
A Westmoreland County judge ordered an Arnold man jailed earlier this month after being charged in connection to the fatal stabbing of his mother to undergo a mental health evaluation. Brian Rebold, 38, was charged with criminal homicide and first-degree murder following the Aug. 4 death of his 73-year-old mother...
Westmoreland broadband upgrades on track for completion, future projects eyed
Installation of about 50 miles of fiber optic cable needed for high-speed internet access in remote areas of Westmoreland County is about 60% complete, officials said Tuesday. The $3.5 million project is expected to be finished by year’s end. The work is part of an ongoing effort to bring broadband...
New Stanton man to serve jail term for sexual assault at Hempfield Halloween party
A New Stanton man was ordered Tuesday to serve nearly two years in jail for the sexual assault of a Mt. Pleasant woman during a 2020 Halloween house party in Hempfield. Anthony Edward Lucas, 29, was convicted following a jury trial in January of lesser charges of sexual assault and...
Man accused of stalking Murrysville rock singer to remain jailed in Westmoreland
Lacey Sturm knows she and others in her industry could be a potential target. The decorated rock singer said Monday following a court hearing for an Ohio man accused of stalking her that she understands the relationship between music and mental health. “I make rock music, and there’s a risk...
Pa. voters along Lincoln Highway see little impact of reshaped presidential race
Nicholas Peiffer isn’t sure he will vote in November. Along with his mother, Peiffer, 21, owns a small skateboard shop in downtown Chambersburg, just across the street from the Franklin County Courthouse. “I know things aren’t great right now, but I’ve never been very political. Since I turned 18, my...
Hunker woman is latest to sue county over Giant Slide safety concerns at Mammoth Park
A Hunker woman, who says she was injured in February on the Giant Slide in Mammoth Park, claims in a lawsuit filed this week that the 100-foot amusement ride is unsafe. Ashley M. Coonelly says that she traveled down the slide at a high rate of speed and was unable...
