What many in the media overlook in their rush to publicly try the defendant is that the man is entitled to a presumption of innocence unless and until he's proven guilty.
]]> The Dravosburg resident gave one-word answers to the judge's questions yesterday.He was arrested in late April in Pompano Beach, Florida, after apparently eluding law enforcement officials for two months.
Authorities say he shot and killed his fellow guard on February 28, leaving the armored vehicle with the man's body inside. Missing from the vehicle was a reported $2.3 million.
The Assistant U.S. Attorney said the suspect faces a pair of federal charges: discharging a firearm in a crime of violence and robbery. The prosecutor said the defendant could face the death penalty if he's convicted of killing the other guard with a gun.
Pittsburgh police served city warrants against the suspect yesterday, adding their own charges of murder, robbery and weapons offenses.
A spokesperson for the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office said there will be more information released next week on how federal and local trials and charges will be disposed of.
So far, authorities have recovered approximately $1.4 million: $300,000 recovered in Pennsylvania and the remainder in Florida.
Source: Fox News, "Pa. guard appears in court in killing, $2.3M heist," May 17, 2012
]]>An Old Forge police captain has also been accused of sexual assault in 2004 and 2005 on the same teen, who is now 23.
]]> The police chief was arraigned on six counts, including aggravated indecent assault, indecent exposure, unlawful contact with a minor and failure to report suspected child abuse.He was taken into custody but then released on $50,000 bail, law enforcement officials said.
The mayor of the borough said the police chief is suspended from his position without pay.
The girl at the center of the accusations was 14 years old when she took fire house training taught by the police chief. She told investigators that the chief took her to coffee shops, drove her to training sessions and purchased for her a fire helmet -- at a cost of several hundred dollars -- that she wasn't asked to pay for.
She alleges that at some point in 2004, their relationship evolved into one involving kissing and "dating." She said he touched her breasts and buttocks while kissing and later reached under her skirt and touched her.
Later, he allegedly exposed himself to her and asked her to touch him.
The chief is also accused of knowing of two occasions of allegedly inappropriate, sexual contact between the police captain and girl.
Source: thetimes-tribune.com, "Old Forge police chief arrested," May 10, 2012
]]>The 34-year-old man had been a patrol officer in Allentown. He was charged with official oppression, coercion and other misdemeanors in connection with the alleged sex crimes. The man was let go from the department after four women came forward, insinuating that he had traded legal help for sex acts.
]]> The woman who has brought this additional accusation said she met the officer when he responded to an incident in which her boyfriend's jaw was broken in a bar fight. She was hesitant to testify in the matter, primarily because she had been drinking and didn't remember much about that night. The officer approached her, saying that she didn't have to testify when they stepped outside together to smoke a cigarette.The man reportedly changed his tune after that initial encounter, saying that the woman might lose her nursing license or even be charged with perjury if she didn't testify in the case. He instructed her to meet him at his home, where he allegedly assaulted her.
The woman said she waited to report the event because she was afraid no one would believe her. Her story doesn't match with the others that have been reported. In the other cases, the man traveled to the women's homes. The man's lawyer said for that reason, the story is very strange and needs to be thoroughly evaluated.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Fifth woman accuses ex-officer," May 5, 2012
]]>In previous court filings, there have been up to 10 boys referred to as Victims 1 to 10. But in a discovery request filed by Sandusky's attorney, asking for more disclosure of materials gathered by investigators, the new figure, much higher figure was revealed.
]]> A document released by the court refers to "Accusers 11 through 17 as well as 18 through an unknown number."The court didn't name the accusers, or describe on what basis they might be making accusations, or if they played a role in the previous criminal charges filed against Sandusky.
The former Penn State defensive coordinator denies all allegations made against him.
He was arrested in November of last year and charged on 40 criminal counts. In December, he was arrested again and the total of criminal charges against him rose to 52.
Penn State coach Joe Paterno, the school's president and PSU's athletic director were all forced out as the allegations unfolded.
A University of Pittsburgh law professor told a media source that "information about any additional accusers for which Sandusky has not been charged could help the defense try to undermine the credibility of the prosecution's case."
It isn't yet clear why there have been no criminal charges filed against Sandusky in regards to the eight additional accusers referred to in the new court documents.
Source: CBS Sports, "Sandusky documents suggest 17 accusers in sexual abuse lawsuit," May 4, 2012
]]>Police claimed that he was taken into custody at a location in Pompano Beach, Florida, believed to be a crack house. He is charged with federal crimes, including a violation of the Hobbs Act which prohibits engaging in robberies with an impact on interstate commerce and using and firing a gun during a crime of violence.
]]> The theft took place Feb. 28 in Pittsburgh, according to authorities. Approximately $2.3 million was missing from the armored car, police said.They reported recovering approximately $250,000 of the funds secreted under a car parked at a home the suspect shared with his parents, as well as approximately $24,000 deposited at the grave of a member of the suspect's family.
More than $1 million was recovered in Florida, authorities said.
An anonymous source reported to be connected with the Pittsburgh Fugitive Task Force told the media that the missing money was difficult to trace because it was largely in denominations of $20 or less. The shrink-wrapped currency, the source said, could possibly be transported in a foot locker sized container.
Prior to being arrested, investigators claimed, the suspect had called both friends and family, and engaged in a conversation with at least one person about how extradition laws in Mexico or Canada worked if a criminal suspect fled there from the United States.
Source: Time, "Suspect in Fatal Armored Car Heist Arrested," Joe Mandak, April 24, 2012
]]>Two days ago, both were sentenced for their alleged roles in a prostitution ring.
]]> The former police partners avoided prison in their sentencing on Monday. The 56-year-old former officer, named the city's top cop back in 1999, pleaded no contest to having participated in corrupt activities. The 40-year-old former cop, named officer of the year back in 2000 when both men worked Pittsburgh's East End, pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution.The two were arrested by former colleagues working undercover a little over a year ago in the parking lot of a hotel in Moon Township.
The older of the two was sentenced to nine months of house arrest and three years of probation. Because of his felony conviction, he can never be a police officer again.
The younger man got a year of probation.
The older former officer retired after a perjury investigation into his activities in a 2008 murder case. He gave allegedly contradictory testimony in a trial in which he admitted being "aligned" with the two defendants. Prosecutors in the case said they had a recording the officer made to one of the jailed defendants in the case.
The other former cop had resigned a year earlier after being accused of forging documents submitted to get a hardship loan from the police department.
Fellow officers said they determined that letters he'd submitted from his landlord were forged.
Source: Wausau Daily Herald, "2 ex-Pittsburgh cops get probation in prostitution," April 30, 2012
]]>The man reportedly told officers that he left the scene of the crime because he didn't have insurance, according to reports. The man was transported to the Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital for a blood test after the incident, officers reported.
]]> The man is scheduled for another hearing related to an incident on April 13. In that case, he is accused of simple assault and harassment. The man allegedly pushed his wife down a flight of stairs, threatening to harm her and their baby. He also faces charges of endangering the welfare of children as a part of that case. The man was released on $1,000 pending further court action.In additional news, a 26-year-old woman was charged with DUI near Edgeworth, when police noticed her vehicle swerving as she drove down the road. Her blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit, according to reports. A 54-year-old Pittsburgh man was also accused of DUI in association with a March 7 motorcycle crash. The man flew off of the bike during the accident, and police found him face-down on the pavement. He reportedly tested positive for opiates, and his blood alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit.
Source: Sewickley Patch: "District Court: Drunken Driving and Drug Arrests," April 23, 2012
]]>The Montgomery County district attorney's office claimed the man used the plane to fly a pound of methamphetamine into the state from his home in Colorado.
]]> The man was convicted in November of selling meth in April 2011 to an undercover police officer after flying into Pennsylvania from his Colorado home, following a stop in Nevada.The man's girlfriend, 41, had earlier pleaded guilty to drug dealing and conspiracy charges in the case and apparently cooperated with authorities.
You might remember that we wrote about the case late last year. The woman's attorney said his client admitted to being part of "discussions relative" to a drug deal, but insisted she wasn't "the main actor" in the transaction.
Her attorney argued that there were mitigating factors involved in his client's behavior, stating that "this woman has suffered some very serious traumatic-induced mental health issues."
She had flown with the man from Colorado.
She faces now a potential maximum sentence from 10 years to 20 years in prison for her role in what prosecutors said was a plot to sell 430 grams of methamphetamine. Apparently, the sale was part of a sting operation, however.
Both the man and woman are scheduled to be sentenced this week.
The Montgomery County district attorney's office said it plans to use the 1959 Piper Cub plane it now owns.
Source: philly.com: "Colorado man forfeits plane in Pa. drug case," April 19, 2012
]]>The former jurist admitted that he leveraged his position as a common pleas judge to commit the acts, said that medication he was on might have affected his judgment. He expressed deep remorse for the acts.
]]> He pleaded guilty to two counts of official oppression and two counts of indecent assault. All of those charges were misdemeanors and he was therefore sentenced to six months of house arrest followed by four years of probation. His sentence could have potentially been far worse had prosecutors not dropped two felony bribery charges as a part of a plea deal.The man was being accused of soliciting sexual favors in exchange for preferential treatment in court. His targets in the case were two women that appeared in front of him during 2009.
He was eventually charged in October of last year and suspended with pay.
The former judge said that ever since the incident, he has been miserable. While it might have seemed as if the man got off easy, his lawyer explained that the legal proceedings were a sure death blow to the man's professional career and legacy.
Clearly, the attorney and former judge were able to make it clear to the court that the former judge was remorseful and that no good purpose would be served by putting a 70-year-old man in state prison at taxpayer expense.
It is also possible, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article, that the former judge will lose his pension as a result of his convictions.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Former Rankin judge pleads guilty to sex assaults," Brian Bowling, April 13, 2012
]]>Law enforcement officials said among those arrested were a father and son, who are allegedly on a high level in Hill drug trafficking.
]]> Police Chief Nate Harper appeared with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl at a press conference announcing the results of Operation Clean Sweep. In the effort, officers seized more than $83,000 in cash, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cocaine, heroin and marijuana.The press conference was held at the corner of Centre Avenue and Erin Street, where officials said police officers witnessed a number of drug transactions held in the open.
Police said that in the operation, they hadn't targeted drug deals involving small substance amounts, but had instead focused on "high-level targets" such as a 66-year-old man who they claim is a longtime major drug dealer. They cited his record, saying his involvement in the drug trade extends backwards in time to 1976. He received a 15-year prison sentence then for his involvement in a multimillion-dollar drug ring distributing Mexican heroin, officials said.
He is today "the main dealer in the Hill District," a police commander said at the press event.
The man's son, 28, was also charged in Operation Clean Sweep. Authorities said the son is a "midlevel dealer" trafficking heroin to street sellers.
Another man, 52, was identified as a "key target" of the operation. Detectives say they found $19,000 worth of heroin in his possession at the time of his arrest. A search of his car turned up $36,000 in cash, a gun and drug packaging materials, they said.
The police chief said officers had worked hard to "eradicate drug activity" in the area.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Hill drug sweep nets 60," April 17, 2012
]]>Media sources state that officials intercepted a 39-pound package which contained 25 pounds of high-grade marijuana. The marijuana was packaged for sale, according to those sources. The man was arrested, and, after his arraignment in early April 2012, was jailed on $1 million bond. He was charged with conspiracy, marijuana trafficking and other unmentioned offenses.
]]> According to media sources, a narcotics interdiction team from another state where the man had his business told Pennsylvania officials that a "suspicious package" was addressed to a "fictitious person" and was shipped overnight to Berks County. The shipping fee for the 39-pound package was paid in cash. Media sources say that when the investigators opened the package, they found 30 heat-sealed bags of high-grade marijuana, which investigators say is worth up to $150,000.The friend that the man was staying with said that she was friends with the man for years and could not believe that he would use her house to distribute drugs. The media sources tried to get more information from California's attorney general's office, but calls were not returned.
The Times-Standard reported that California's Department of Justice arrested an elementary school teacher who supposedly had a growing operation, but could not confirm whether the two cases were related.
Source: The Times-Standard: "Humboldt County medical marijuana dispensary owner arrested in Pennsylvania; THC owner faces trafficking charges," Donna Tam, April 7, 2012
]]>The 28-year-old soldier is accused of obtaining from Citibank a debit card in the name of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, a billionaire. The soldier reportedly attempted a $15,000 wire transfer with the card and paid off a delinquent $650 loan.
]]> He also allegedly attempted to make a $1 purchase at a dollar store with the card.An FBI document filed after the soldier's arrest said he'd convinced a Citibank customer service employee to change the mailing address for an Allen account to the soldier's East Liberty address.
The FBI says three days later, he persuaded another customer service representative to send a new debit card to the new address.
The soldier was arrested March 6. At the time, prosecutors allege, he was absent from his Louisiana-based Army unit, the 10th Mountain Division.
He posted a $10,000 unsecured bond, but the judge ordered him held until last week to allow the Army to decide whether it wanted to additionally charge him with desertion.
The solider has been charged with desertion, but is being allowed to serve with his unit while the charge is processed. According to a senior officer, the Army is allowing him to serve and prove he can be productive while it decides whether or not to court-martial him.
In these kinds of cases, it's wise for the accused to discuss the case with an attorney experienced in federal cases of wire fraud and related charges before talking to prosecutors or investigators.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Soldier AKA billionaire is back in Army fatigues," Brian Bowling, April 5, 2012
]]>The reserve outside linebacker might have feared accusations that he was driving under the influence of drugs when he was pulled over in his Ford Taurus around 10 last Friday night.
]]> According to various media sources, the player was leaving the One Stop Mini Mart on the Boulevard of the Allies in Oakland when police attempted to pull him over.A police officer alleges that the player tried to ram the marked police car with his Taurus. He then crashed his car into a guard rail.
An officer claims he then saw the player stuff a plastic bag that reportedly contained marijuana into his mouth. As law enforcement officers yanked him from the car, they tried to pry the bag from the Pitt Panthers' player's mouth. Unable to do that, they said in their criminal complaint report, the player was punched by an officer, which enabled the police to get the bag out of his mouth.
Officers also state that the player ignored their orders to stay on the ground. Instead, they allege, he struggled with officers before they were able to apply handcuffs to him.
He was later taken to Allegheny County Jail and held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
What began, apparently, as a traffic violation, turned into two counts of aggravated assault, as well as charges of resisting arrest, fleeing or eluding police, marijuana possession, tampering with evidence and vehicular offenses.
The redshirt junior has now been suspended from the team by the head coach, and can no longer participate in team activities.
According to reports, though he's currently a reserve player, he was likely to see an increase in playing time this season.
Source: Bleacher Report: "Pittsburgh Football: Linebacker Arrested in Bizarre Sequence of Events," Michael Felder, April 2, 2012
]]>The man, 57, has been under investigation by the task force since early March, when investigators identified him as a person sharing pornographic images. They tracked down his Internet Protocol address, which led them to the man.
]]> Police issued a search warrant and confiscated a computer tower, two terabyte hard drives and more than 900 CD's that contained images of various sexual acts between children and adults. The man was charged with the following third-degree felony offenses:In addition, he is also charged with three counts of selling obscene sexual materials, which is a first-degree misdemeanor.
While we don't know how this case will turn out for this man, if you find yourself in a similar situation where you have been charged with child pornography or a sexual offense, you should speak with a criminal defense attorney. It's important that while your situation is not ideal, you still have rights. Regardless of the charges, you have the privilege to explore your legal options.
The defendant in this case is free on bail with restrictions that include voice monitoring and he is prohibited from using the internet or having contact with minors. If the man is convicted of these charges, he could be facing a long prison term.
Source: Mainlinemedianews.com, "Marple man arrested on child-porn charges," Rose Quinn, April 3, 2012
]]>He responded to a call from police to help them on a domestic violence call, which is common operating procedure. Police said that the chief responded to the call at 3:45 in the morning, and the woman involved in the domestic violence call had a piece of glass in her head. According to an affidavit, the chief tried to help the medics, but "his behavior was erratic and potentially hazardous to the patient." The affidavit also said the chief's speech was slurred, he smelled like alcohol, had bloodshot eyes and could not stand properly.
]]> According to police, they asked him to wait outside. He supposedly got into his truck, turned around at a dead end, and then returned to the scene. That is when police reportedly stopped him and gave him a field sobriety test, which he failed.Police said his blood alcohol content was 0.253 percent, more than triple the legal limit. The truck that the chief was driving was registered to the fire department. Records show that the chief was charged with driving under the influence in the same truck in an incident in January 2012.
According to media sources, online court records did not list an attorney for the chief. The chief's brother is the fire department's assistant chief and said that if the department votes him in, he will take over the position as chief.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Cecil fire chief resigns after drunken driving arrest," Rachel Weaver, March 21, 2012
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