Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 49
Suspect’s mental health questioned in Woodpeckers fatal shooting
The lawyer for a Lower Burrell man awaiting trial in a fatal 2021 shooting at an Upper Burrell bar said his client’s mental health could limit his criminal responsibility for the homicide. Public defender Wayne McGrew told a Westmoreland County judge during a hearing Thursday that Daniel Moles should be...
Bell Township bar sued by woman who claimed injuries caused by drunken fall from stool
A Bell Township bar was sued this week by a woman who claimed she was left a quadriplegic when she was served too much alcohol and fell off a stool. According to the lawsuit, Mary Jo Jordan, 55, of Avonmore contends her injuries two years ago were caused by negligence...
Trial for Rialto shooting suspects delayed until March
The attempted homicide trials of two men charged in connection with a shooting last year in downtown Greensburg has been postponed until March. The joint trial for Evan Curley, 24, of Greensburg, and Stevin “Twogunz” German, 28, of Uniontown was to begin Feb. 6, but following in court discussions on...
Local water systems prepare to deal with stricter regulations for ‘forever chemicals’
New regulations that place stricter limits on the presence of “forever chemicals” in Pennsylvania’s public drinking water are not expected to heavily impact the local water supply, officials said. While the revised standards dramatically reduce the levels of two forms of the toxic chemicals that collectively are known as PFAS,...
Westmoreland commissioners approve shelter plan
Westmoreland commissioners this week unanimously approved a $3.6 million plan for the construction of a new homeless shelter. Officials earlier this month outlined a plan, funded by American Rescue Plan through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to build 12-bed shelter that will include private accommodations for temporary...
Westmoreland birthday celebration, park upgrades funded in $2.1 million tourism plan
Westmoreland County’s $2.1 million tourism plan this year will include funding for events to mark the county’s 250th anniversary. Commissioners approved the plan that also is focused on upgrades at county parks at their meeting Thursday. Funded through a portion of the revenue collected through the county’s 5% hotel tax,...
Westmoreland County to hold job fair in February
Westmoreland County will hold a job fair in February at Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield. The fair will be conducted from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 23 at the mall’s Center Court, where on-site interviews will be conducted for dozens of vacant positions. The county said it is seeking to...
Westmoreland public defender staff shortage leads to canceled hearings
Ongoing staffing issues in the Westmoreland County Public Defender’s Office resulted in criminal cases being postponed Thursday at a Jeannette district judge’s office. Judge Joe DeMarchis said all five cases scheduled before him had to be canceled after his office was notified there were not enough attorneys on duty to...
S.C. man pleads guilty to sexual contact with 8-year-old Hempfield girl
A convicted sex offender from South Carolina was ordered to serve up to seven years in prison for having improper sexual contact via online messages with an 8-year-old Hempfield girl nearly eight years ago. David B. Poplin, 36, was originally charged by the Pennsylvania State Police in August 2015, a...
Latrobe couple to serve probation for helping juvenile group home runaway
A Latrobe couple has been ordered to serve probation for assisting a 17-year-old runaway from a juvenile group home in 2021. Eric L. Mallin, 52, and his wife, Michele, were charged with corruption of a minor based on accusations they gave the teen a place to stay before they drove...
Unity woman pleads guilty to assaults against teens, nurse
A Unity woman was ordered to serve five years on probation after she pleaded guilty Tuesday to assaults against a high school student in 2019 and an attack of a hospital nurse a year later. Susan Barkley, 44, previously served nearly two years in jail and at a mental health...
Westmoreland DA says catalytic converter theft ring probe ongoing
Three Chicago men charged this week with stealing catalytic converters from dozens of businesses and individuals in Westmoreland, Allegheny and Fayette counties are likely part of a larger theft ring that is still active, investigators said Tuesday. “The brazen acts of these suspects not only cost innocent drivers and business...
Judge laments behavior of Rostraver elected officials
A Westmoreland County judge on Tuesday made it clear he is frustrated with the ongoing dispute among elected officials in Rostraver who are at odds amidst a court-ordered ban of one commissioner from attending some government meetings in person. “I didn’t come up with this solution. I just agreed to...
New Kensington man appeals conviction for 2020 Arnold fatal shooting
The lawyer for a New Kensington man sentenced to life in prison for the 2020 fatal shooting of a man in Arnold claims trial evidence supports his client’s claim of self-defense. In an appeal filed Monday, Assistant Public Defender John Sweeney argued convictions of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, third-degree murder,...
Water, sewer rates to remain steady as part of new MAWC budget
Water and sewer rates will remain steady as part of a new budget approved by Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County board members. The $110.4 million spending plan for the 2023-24 fiscal year includes $6 million in expense increases that authority officials blame on rising costs to operate the water and...
Hempfield man announces second bid for Westmoreland commissioner
A former retired executive from Hempfield announced this week he will seek election as Westmoreland County commissioner. John Ventre, 65, said he will run in this year’s Republican primary and is targeting first-time incumbent Doug Chew as his chief opponent this spring. Chew and fellow first-term Republican Sean Kertes are...
Mt. Pleasant man not guilty of attempted homicide, convicted of assaulting former girlfriend
A Westmoreland County jury Friday found a Mt. Pleasant man did not intend to kill his former girlfriend when he beat and choked her into unconsciousness and left her in the woods. Charles P. Etling, 41, was convicted of lesser counts of aggravated assault, strangulation and reckless endangerment in connection...
Mt. Pleasant man admits assault, denies attempted murder of girlfriend
Charles Etling told a Westmoreland County jury on Thursday that he was sure he killed his live-in girlfriend in June 2020 when he left her lifeless body in a wooded area near the side of a Mt. Pleasant Township road. “I thought … (she) was deceased. I felt bad just...
Former Franklin Regional board member not guilty of Hempfield political sign thefts
A jury deliberated less than 30 minutes Thursday before finding a former Franklin Regional School Board member not guilty of stealing political signs from Hempfield roadways. Since his arrest nearly two years ago, Gary English, 66, of Murrysville claimed he was simply clearing litter and performing a task — removing...
Trial begins for Murrysville man accused of taking political signs
According to his lawyer, former Franklin Regional School Director Gary English was just picking up litter when he loaded campaign signs into the back of his pickup truck in April 2020. “Twice a year we are all assaulted by these campaign signs that litter our roadways and are prohibited from...
Mt. Pleasant woman describes being left for dead after alleged assault by ex-boyfriend
A Mt. Pleasant Township woman told a jury how she was bloodied, bruised, covered in mud and vegetation and left for dead in the woods in 2020 after she was assaulted by her live-in boyfriend. But she regained consciousness some 12 hours later and crawled to a road to seek...
Youngwood man cuts trial short, pleads guilty to fatal stabbing
Michael Covington Jr. sat on the witness stand Wednesday and told the surviving family members of Matthew Genard that he struggles to deal with his actions from more than five years ago when, police said, he robbed and stabbed his victim at least 22 times in the back. “His life...
Hempfield teen convicted in brother’s slaying paroled from state prison
Ian Bishop, who was 14 when he bludgeoned his 18-year-old brother to death in the family’s Hempfield home in 2002, is out of prison. Bishop, now 35, was paroled Jan. 3, according to records made public by the Pennsylvania Parole Board. He served 21 years in prison. Bishop was prosecuted...
Lawyer says Youngwood murder suspect is not a killer
The lawyer for a man charged with the robbery and fatal stabbing of a man in his Youngwood home more than five years ago told a Westmoreland County jury Tuesday that his client is not a killer. Defense attorney Ken Noga said Michael J. Covington Jr. of Youngwood, now 25,...
Westmoreland doubles plans for broadband upgrade projects
As much as $3 million will be spent this year on four projects aimed at improving high-speed internet access in Westmoreland County, commissioners said. These broadband upgrades come as a followup to a study by the county last year that, according to preliminary results, determined as much as 71% of...
