Jeannette woman paroled after pleading guilty to threatening, assaulting teen

A Jeannette woman was released from jail Tuesday after she pleaded guilty to charges of threatening and assaulting a teen last year in Rostraver.

Police said Mary J. Burch, 49, entered a vehicle driven by a teenage boy outside of a convenience store on Nov. 8, 2018, claimed she had a gun and ordered he drive her to a bar in Allegheny County. Once there, she refused to leave the vehicle and was driven back to Rostraver, according to court records.

In court on Tuesday, Burch pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of simple assault and terroristic threats. She was sentenced by Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani to serve up to 23 months in jail but was paroled after being given credit for a month behind bars after she was taken into custody in July. The judge also ordered Burch to have a psychiatric evaluation.

“It was a random person who I asked for a ride,” Burch told the judge. “I really didn’t have a gun.”

According to court records, Burch was identified by police through a DNA sample taken from the vehicle.

Burch originally was scheduled for hearing to reinstate her bond after being jailed last month.

Assistant District Attorney Mike Pacek said Burch should serve at least six months in jail and was opposed to her being released from prison, citing a long criminal history and detailing numerous other charged offenses.

“She’s going to continue to commit crimes,” Pacek said.

Burch has just one pending criminal case for which she is awaiting a preliminary hearing in September on unrelated burglary and theft charges in connection with an arrest in February. In that case police contend Burch entered the homes of two neighbors in an apartment building in Jeannette and stole frozen meals and jewelry.

In that case Burch allegedly threatened several of the Jeannette Manor residents, including one of her accusers. She remains free on an unsecured $10,000 bond in that case.