Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 40
Lower Burrell man denies sex assault, gun charges
A Lower Burrell man denied to a Westmoreland County jury on Wednesday that he had sexual contact with a preteen girl who claimed she was molested. “I did nothing close to anything like that,” Edgar Lee Williams testified during the second day of his trial in which a now teen-age...
Lower Burrell man on trial for sex assault charges against child
A mother’s questioning of her 10-year-old daughter over suspicions of stolen rent money led to allegations of sexual improprieties against a neighbor, a Westmoreland County prosecutor said Tuesday. Assistant District Attorney Judi Petrush told jurors that instead of admitting to theft of the cash the child unexpectedly disclosed reports of...
Third state probe of Westmoreland juvenile center finds potential riot averted despite inadequate staff training
A state agency Tuesday disclosed findings from a third investigation of operations at Westmoreland County’s temporarily closed juvenile detention center. The investigation resulted in an additional violation related to a physical altercation this year between a staff member and a teen that officials feared created a potential for a riot...
Herminie man pleads guilty to finger gun threat
A Herminie man pleaded guilty Monday to allegations he made a gun-pointing gesture with his fingers at potential witnesses during a court hearing last year. Michael Wichelmann, 60, was sentenced to up to 23 months in jail in connection to the July 7, 2022, incident in a Westmoreland County courtroom....
State issues violations against closed Westmoreland juvenile detention center
State investigators issued multiple violations against Westmoreland County’s juvenile detention center after two teens suffered injuries while incarcerated, officials confirmed Monday. Controller Jeffrey Balzer, who serves as chairman of the county’s Juvenile Detention Board, said the violations focused on staffing issues at the Regional Youth Services Center in Hempfield. “It’s...
Avonmore man sentenced to prison for attacks on girlfriend, police
An Avonmore man was ordered to serve up to four years in prison in connection with a knife attack inside an Avonmore home last year and an unrelated confrontation with police. Richard William O’Brien, 47, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated simple assault, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest related to...
Salem gun threat nets prison sentence
A Washington County man was ordered to serve up to five years in prison for threats made during a confrontation last year with a former girlfriend in her Salem home. Robert Wisdom, 36, of California pleaded guilty to simple assault, terroristic threats and reckless endangerment in connection with allegations that...
Police pension fund audits find accounting errors
Accounting errors were identified in new state audits of South Huntingdon and Ligonier Township police pension funds. According to findings released this week by Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor both townships saw funding discrepancies associated with contributions made to the pension funds. Two errors were identified related to Ligonier’s...
Discounted court fees result from stalled state budget
Divorce-seekers are in line for a discount. Costs to file court documents in Pennsylvania are more than $20 cheaper, for now. An under-the-radar casualty of the state’s financial uncertainty related to a monthlong budget impasse is an annual surcharge added to fees for the filing of most court documents. That...
Indiana DA finds police justified in fatal in shooting
State police were justified in the fatal shooting of a 51-year-old man killed following a traffic stop last month near Homer City, Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi Jr. announced Wednesday. Manzi said the monthlong investigation into the circumstances of the July 3 fatal shooting of John V. Dye determined...
Judge OKs access to mental health records in firearms prosecution of Trump defender
Westmoreland County prosecutors will have access to the mental health records of a Hunker man who was charged with illegal gun possession at a Delmont restaurant where he claimed he was defending former President Donald Trump. Common Pleas Judge Tim Krieger authorized the release of records as part of a...
Indiana DA finds police justified in fatal shooting
State police were justified in the fatal shooting of a 51-year-old man killed following a traffic stop last month near Homer City, Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi Jr. announced Wednesday. Manzi said the monthlong investigation into the circumstances of the July 3 fatal shooting of John V. Dye determined...
Ted Kopas returns to work as Westmoreland commissioner
Ted Kopas didn’t need directions to get to work Tuesday morning. Kopas, a Democrat who lives in Hempfield, was sworn in to office as a Westmoreland County commissioner. He takes over the minority role on the county’s board of commissioners from Democrat Gina Cerilli Thrasher, who left office a day...
Accused Upper Burrell bar shooter competent for trial
A Westmoreland County judge ruled Tuesday that a man charged in connection with a fatal shooting in an Upper Burrell bar nearly two years ago is competent to stand trial. Police claim Daniel Moles, 77, of Lower Burrell shot and killed 31-year-old Randy Jenereaux at Woodpeckers Pub & Grub tavern...
North Huntingdon man sentenced to probation for 2020 armed robbery
A North Huntingdon man was ordered Monday to serve seven years on probation for his role in an armed robbery nearly three years ago in Mt. Pleasant Township. Elijah Ben Chaabane, 20, pleaded guilty earlier this year to robbery, conspiracy and weapons offense related to a Dec. 19, 2020 incident...
Thrasher ends tenure as Westmoreland commissioner
Gina Cerilli Thrasher’s title will remain the same. In her next role, Thrasher will serve as a commissioner on the state’s Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board when she starts her new job Tuesday. Her more than seven years as a member of Westmoreland County’s Board of Commissioners ended Monday. “It’s bittersweet...
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County looks to continue expansion efforts
Sewers are the new growth industry for the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County. The agency last week completed the purchase of a municipal sewer system that services Scottdale, Everson, Upper Tyrone and part of East Huntingdon, and officials said the utility, whose primary business during its first 60 years has...
Murrysville Golf Club tees up for court battle
The operator of a Murrysville golf course claims the landlord wants to take over what has become a successful business. J.K. Golf Inc., the operator of the Murrysville Golf Club, filed a lawsuit this week seeking an arbitration panel be convened to determine the future of the 18-hole course on...
Westmoreland courthouse to host veteran benefits clinic
Westmoreland County’s Department of Veterans Affairs will host an open house at the courthouse on Thursday to assist with applications for special benefits authorized by the federal government last year. The clinic will operate from noon to 3 p.m. to provide assistance for veterans and their families to apply for...
Derry mother on arrest in daughter’s 2007 death: ‘I didn’t think I would see this’
Carol Polo waited years to hear the news she received this week. “I didn’t think I would see this,” Polo said Thursday at a news conference held the day after police arrested and charged a Derry Township man in the 2007 murder of her 22-year-old daughter. Police said Samantha Lang...
Westmoreland County prepares for funding shortfalls in event of prolonged state budget impasse
Westmoreland County leaders huddled for more than an hour Wednesday to begin working on a playbook to ensure essential programs and services continue locally if the state legislature fails to adopt a budget. “We are prepared for it and we want to make sure we have enough money in our...
Westmoreland 250: 10 unique things in Greensburg
(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a...
Judge sets bond for Chicago man charged in Westmoreland catalytic converter thefts
A Chicago man awaiting trial on charges that he was part of a multicounty catalytic converter theft ring can be released from jail if he posts $750,000 bail, a Westmoreland County judge ruled Tuesday. Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio ordered Christian Buie, 32, to post three, $250,000 straight cash bonds if he...
Married Trafford couple pleads guilty to prostitution
A married Trafford couple pleaded guilty Tuesday to operating a sex business from their home this year. Police said Robert Wargo, 53, and his wife, Kayla Wargo, 35, solicited and hosted men for sexual encounters at their Fairmont Avenue residence during daytime hours. Investigators contended they opened the investigation in...
Experts debate teen’s potential transfer to juvenile court in New Kensington murder case
Two mental health experts gave conflicting testimony Monday as to whether a now 16-year-old boy charged in connection with a fatal shooting last summer in New Kensington should be prosecuted as an adult. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Wright said Avian Molter is not receptive to treatment in the juvenile justice...
