Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 27
Hempfield man’s ‘nonstop criminal activity’ nets 3- to 6-year prison sentence
A Hempfield man was ordered to serve up to six years in prison for a series of crimes that included an assault against a police officer, two high-speed chases and possession of cocaine in his cell at the Westmoreland County jail. As Antjuan Dewayne Smith, 41, pleaded guilty Thursday, his...
Hempfield man’s ‘nonstop criminal activity’ nets 3-to 6-year prison sentence
A Hempfield man was ordered to serve up to six years in prison for a series of crimes that included an assault against a police officer, two high-speed chases and possession of cocaine in his cell at the Westmoreland County Prison. As Antjuan Dewayne Smith, 41, pleaded guilty Thursday, his...
Investigation launched over allegations of missing funds from North Huntingdon AG Office
The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday confirmed it has launched an investigation into allegations that an undisclosed amount of money was stolen from an Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office in North Huntingdon. Spokeswoman Melanie Jones said in a statement that the district attorney’s office “is aware of missing funds...
Mt. Pleasant man to serve probation for sexual assault of child
A Mt. Pleasant Borough man was ordered to serve five years on probation after he pleaded guilty Wednesday to the sexual assault of a young girl. Lawrence L. Lewis Jr., 75, was charged last year in connection allegations leveled by a 10-year-old girl who claimed she was molested multiple times...
Vandergrift man sentenced to prison for sex assaults of children
A Vandergrift man will serve at least 16 years in prison for the sexual assault of two children. Timothy Johnson, 38, was convicted by a Westmoreland County jury in February in two separate cases in which he was convicted of 12 counts. Those included involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, conspiracy, indecent...
Youngwood man pleads guilty to drug sales in 2 fatal overdoses
A Youngwood man pleaded guilty Monday to selling drugs to two people who died of overdoses in 2020. Frank Bogley, 71, was charged following the Feb. 1, 2020, death of 39-year-old Tina Johnson in West Newton and again after the Oct. 24, 2020, death of John W. Wiltrout Jr., 58,...
Vandergrift woman to serve probation for theft from roommate
A Vandergrift woman was ordered to serve five years on probation for her role in the theft of more than $30,000 from a roommate over a two-year period that ended in April 2022. Rebecca Lynn Hubert, 56, pleaded guilty to charges of theft and receiving stolen property as part of...
Defense claims prosecutor misconduct during 2016 trial for New Stanton motel killing
The lawyer for a McKeesport man convicted of first-degree murder at a New Stanton motel is accusing prosecutors of misconduct during a 2016 trial. Attorney Chris Rand Eyster said prosecutors failed to adequately disclose key information regarding pending federal charges against an eyewitness. The eyewitness testified that she saw Christopher...
Teen sentenced for role in fatal New Kensington shooting
A Pittsburgh teenager was ordered to serve up to four years in prison for his role in a fatal shooting two summers ago in front of a New Kensington high rise apartment building. Avian Molter, who turned 17 on April 16, told a Westmoreland County judge he’s turned his life...
North Huntingdon man pleads guilty to making and sharing child porn
A North Huntingdon man pleaded guilty Thursday to 32 felony offenses related to allegations he created and distributed images of child pornography. James C. Gockel, 41, was charged in 2022 after state police investigators received notification from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that videos were uploaded to...
Westmoreland politicos put primary in the past, look ahead to November
A day after only 30% of Westmoreland County’s voters cast ballots in a sleepy primary with few contested races, local political leaders said Wednesday they are setting their sights on what they expect to be a rugged general election campaign. Even with just a handful of down-ballot races on the...
Dziados leads in Democratic primary for chance to unseat Reschenthaler in Congress
Retired U.S. Army veteran Chris Dziados, with overwhelming support from his home county, appeared ahead in the race to secure the Democratic nomination in the 14th Congressional District. According to the unofficial results, Dziados will face incumbent Rep. Guy Reschenthaler in November. Dziados, 43, of South Strabane, Washington County, had...
Texas trucker returns home after hit-and-run guilty plea
A Texas truck driver was scheduled to jet home Monday night to Dallas after serving nearly 16 months in the Westmoreland County Prison for a hit-and-run crash in the parking lot of a Hempfield auto parts store. Quantae M. Beavers, 26, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault, simple assault,...
Westmoreland transit launches real time bus tracking
The Westmoreland County Transit Authority this month launched a mobile phone application that provides riders with real-time tracking of local buses. The MyStop app allows passengers to receive updates on bus locations and estimated arrival times along the agency’s route system that includes commuter service to Pittsburgh and local service...
Voting precincts remain inaccessible to some disabled voters in Westmoreland County
Adam Halfill’s job description doesn’t include heavy lifting. But when Halfill reports to work Tuesday as the judge of elections at Greensburg Hose Company No. 3, he understands the job could involve the use of a little muscle. “Voters have to come down four or five steps to get into...
GOP reverses course, says mail-in ballots key to 2024 success
Local Republican leaders are pushing voters to get in the game when it comes to mail-in ballots, even if the most prominent voice in the party still is resistant. “It is important because we’re already starting each election with a deficit,” said Westmoreland GOP Committee Chairman Bill Bretz. “Many Democratic...
Latrobe man will serve at least 15 years in prison for Derry Township dagger, bat attack
A Latrobe man was ordered to serve 15 to 30 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges related to a brutal assault in Derry Township that left three people severely injured. Westmoreland County prosecutors say Nicholas McIntyre broke into the Fourth Street apartment where his former girlfriend and...
Scottdale contractor ordered to serve extra prison term for home improvement thefts
Scottdale contractor Jason Pirl said life just got away from him after he suffered two heart attacks in October 2020. His health crisis in the midst of the raging coronavirus pandemic left his home repair business in tatters. Then ongoing alcohol and gambling addictions made his problems worse, Pirl said....
MAWC OKs Hempfield sewer project after 4-year delay
Sewer lines will be extended near Baltzer Meyer Road and Fort Allen Elementary School in Hempfield in a nearly $500,000 project that’s been stalled for four years. Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County board members awarded a contract with W.A. Petrakis Inc. of Penn Township to install more than 7,000 feet...
Sex assault counts dropped against former North Huntingdon nursing aide
Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office said it will no longer pursue sexual assault charges against a former aide at a North Huntingdon nursing home. A jury in March found Daniel Odu, 36, of McKeesport not guilty of the attempted rape of a 19-year-old co-worker at the Grove at Irwin in...
Greensburg man to serve 10-year prison term for rape of child
A Greensburg man was ordered to serve up to 10 years in prison for the rape of a child in 2007. Jared Christopher Painter, 35, pleaded guilty in January to two felony counts of rape and charges of aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and sexual assault. According to court records,...
Monessen teen pleads guilty in friend’s killing
A Monessen teenager pleaded guilty on Monday to a charge of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of his 16-year-old classmate in 2022. Terry Newton, 17, had been scheduled to go to trial May 6 on criminal homicide charges related to his role in the Nov. 29, 2022...
Steel City Con crowds bolster call to retain Monroeville Convention Center
The Monroeville Convention Center was home to about 18,000 cosplayers, celebrity seekers, hobbyists and the plain curious this weekend, just more than a month after the center’s future was very much in doubt. In February, owners of the three-day Steel City Con, one of the largest events conducted each year...
1 dead, another wounded in West Elizabeth bar shooting
Police recovered a firearm and have charged a Donora man in connection with a West Elizabeth shooting on Saturday night that left one person dead and another wounded. Allegheny County police responded to a 911 call of a shooting shortly after 10:30 p.m. at Beer Belly’s Bar on 5th Street...
Democrats Bach, Dziados seek opportunity for fall race to unseat Reschenthaler in Congress
Democrats in Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District know there is a steep hill to climb. Businessman Ken Bach of Smithton or retired U.S. Navy veteran Christopher Dziados of South Strabane will attempt in November to oust three-term Republican incumbent Guy Reschenthaler, who has represented the six-county district since 2019. Both Bach...
