Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 130
Arnold woman a no-show for hearing related to killing of New Kensington cop
An Arnold woman awaiting trial on charges she helped the man accused of shooting New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw during a traffic stop in late 2017 is on the run. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Lisa Harrington on Monday after she failed to appear in court for a...
Westmoreland inmates reach record detox level in February
More than 80 percent of new inmates lodged at Westmoreland County Prison in February were addicted to drugs or alcohol. Warden John Walton on Monday told members of the county’s prison board that inmates who needed detoxification services hit an all-time high, raising concerns the drug epidemic that has plagued...
Westmoreland County looking for longtime ballot-casters for state Voters Hall of Fame
Westmoreland County voters who have cast ballots in the last 50 or more general elections could be honored this year as Hall of Famers. Pennsylvania’s Department of State Elections Bureau has inducted more than 23,000 residents in the Voters Hall of Fame, including 292 from Westmoreland County. To be considered,...
Jury convicts driver of third-degree murder in 2016 East Huntingdon pedestrian death
Jurors deliberated about three hours Friday before convicting a New Stanton man of third-degree murder in the death of an East Huntingdon pedestrian on Christmas Eve 2016. Matthew Ramsay, 31, was found guilty of being under the influence of drugs when he deliberately veered his car across traffic on Ruffsdale-Alverton...
Jury convicts Latrobe man of third-degree murder in robbery-turned-homicide case
A Westmoreland County jury Friday convicted a Latrobe man of a lesser charge of third-degree murder for his role in a robbery plot that turned deadly when a Good Samaritan was gunned down as he attempted to intervene. Colin Gearhart, 19, was also found guilty of robbery and conspiracy counts...
Detective: Latrobe teen knew about robbery plan that resulted in death
Westmoreland County investigators said that despite claims that he wanted to stop a robbery at his own home, a 17-year-old Latrobe teen allowed the plot to go forward, and his friend was shot and killed. Detective Ray Dupilka testified Thursday in the third day of the second-degree murder trial of...
Westmoreland commissioner endorses chief of staff in Republican primary
Westmoreland County Commissioner Charles Anderson on Thursday endorsed his chief of staff, Sean Kertes, as his replacement. Kertes, 32, of Greensburg, has worked for Anderson, a two-term Republican commissioner, since 2016. Anderson announced earlier this year he will not run for re-election and will retire at year’s end. “From my...
Driver accused of killing East Huntingdon pedestrian declines to testify at his trial
During a pre-dawn Christmas morning interrogation with police, Matthew Ramsay insisted he didn’t know he hit and killed a pedestrian hours earlier in East Huntingdon. Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Kevin Wheelden testified Thursday that Ramsay appeared sluggish and tired and spoke with slurred speech as he was questioned by police...
Testimony places alleged murder weapon in Latrobe man’s home
The alleged murder weapon and two other guns had been seen in the home of a Latrobe man who prosecutors contend helped plot a robbery that left another friend dead, according to testimony Wednesday in the trial of Colin Gearhart. Gearhart, 19, is charged with second-degree murder and other offenses...
Westmoreland primary could see nearly 500 candidates running for 173 elected offices
Nearly 500 candidates are expected to appear on the May 21 primary ballots in Westmoreland County. Elections bureau officials on Wednesday made public the complete list of candidates seeking 173 elected offices this year. Republican and Democratic voters will nominate candidates for state and county judges, county commissioners and row...
Trial begins for man accused of killing East Huntingdon pedestrian
Jolene Cummins said her husband was excited to finally spend Christmas Eve with his family. Having previously been on call for the holidays, Joseph Cummins had a new job and for the first time in years did not have to work. He prepared to head to church with his wife...
Defense attorney says client didn’t intend to be involved in Latrobe murder
The lawyer for a Latrobe man told Westmoreland County jurors Tuesday his 19-year-old client never intended to be involved in a murder. Defense attorney Michael DeMatt conceded that Colin Gearhart was present but was not involved with the robbery and shooting that left a friend dead in front of his...
Trial set to begin for motorist accused of killing East Huntingdon pedestrian
Opening statements and testimony will begin Wednesday in the third-degree murder trial of a New Stanton motorist charged with being under the influence of drugs when he hit and killed a pedestrian walking his dog on Christmas Eve 2016. Jurors were seated Tuesday in the case against Matthew Ramsay, 31,...
Patricia Fritz announces bid for commissioner, while her former boss files to run again for Westmoreland sheriff
Embattled Westmoreland County Sheriff Jonathan Held and his former chief deputy filed campaign documents Tuesday to run for public office. Held, a Hempfield Republican, will seek a third term as the sheriff while state prosecutors prepare to retry him on public corruption charges. He is accused of forcing on-duty deputies...
Suspects in Monessen shooting reject plea deals
Two men awaiting a retrial in connection with a shooting nearly two years ago in Monessen rejected plea bargains on Monday and said they want a jury to decide their fates. Joseph “Jo Jo” Heath and Rashawn Ford, both of Monessen, have disputed charges that they were involved in the...
Trial to begin for third defendant in fatal drug dealer robbery in Latrobe
Opening statements will begin Tuesday in the second-degree murder trial of a Latrobe man accused of participating in a plot to rob a Pittsburgh-area drug dealer. The plan went awry, according to investigators, and 20-year-old Daniel McNerny of Latrobe was shot and killed. A jury was seated on Monday to...
Defendant in Greensburg drug death case to be released from jail after completing treatment
An Irwin man jailed last week along with two others in connection with a fatal overdose of a man in Greensburg will be released from jail as he awaits his trial. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani on Monday modified the bond that held Francesco Ziegler, 28, in...
Youngwood water, sewer line work to begin in 2020
A $12 million construction project to relocate water and sewer lines in Youngwood is expected to begin next year. Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County has approved spending more than $5.1 million to move sewer lines under Route 119 as part of a PennDOT project to repair and resurface the three-mile...
Judge: Hempfield woman accused of sharing child pornography can be released from jail
A Hempfield woman charged with disseminating a video that police said depicts another woman having sex with a 5-year-old boy can be released from prison, a judge ruled Friday. Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani ordered Amanda Smith to be released on nominal bond while she awaits trial next month, but...
Residents want gas drilling to stop at Beaver Run Reservoir
Environmentalists on Friday demanded board members of the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County halt deep well gas drilling at the agency’s Beaver Run Reservoir property in Washington and Bell townships. The plea came nearly two months after a well at the reservoir property malfunctioned when a drop in pressure at...
Westmoreland pension fund reported in good shape
Westmoreland County’s pension fund lost more than $45 million in 2018 and for the first time in five years has been designated at a minimum distressed level. The account, which provides benefits to about 1,300 government retirees, has more than $415 million in assets after its value dipped by nearly...
Westmoreland Manor administrator out, replacement named
The private company that manages Westmoreland Manor has hired a new administrator to oversee day-to-day operations at the county-owned nursing home. Premier Healthcare Resources, the Penn Township-based firm that was paid more than $586,000 last year to run the 408-bed facility in Hempfield, replaced John Austin, the nursing home’s manager...
Unity woman gets probation for boyfriend’s shooting
A Unity woman pleaded guilty Thursday to shooting her boyfriend during a domestic dispute last year. Brandy Harr, 41, told a judge it was in her best interest to plead guilty to a misdemeanor count of simple assault in connection to the March 9, 2018, shooting in her apartment that...
Lawyers want 1990 New Kensington rape case against John Kunco dismissed
Lawyers for John Kunco, the former Harrison man who served nearly three decades behind bars for the rape of a New Kensington woman, wants a judge to dismiss the case. In court motions filed Thursday, lawyers contend missing evidence and the loss of testimony through the deaths of the alleged...
Oklahoma Borough man gets house arrest for stealing natural gas; how much still debated
An Oklahoma Borough man will serve five years on probation and a year of house arrest for his role in what Westmoreland County prosecutors continue to maintain is the theft of more than $200,000 of natural gas. Jeffrey Zinchini, 60, avoided jail time as part of a sentence announced Thursday....
