Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 97
Charges dismissed in case of baby who died in Vandergrift
A Westmoreland County judge ruled that no crime was committed involving the death of 5-week old baby who suffocated while sleeping with his father on a sofa nearly two years ago in Vandergrift. Charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment were dismissed against Owen Labrenn Copney, 27, whose newborn son,...
Dozens of clergy sex abuse lawsuits filed in Allegheny, Westmoreland courts as possible deadline looms
More than two dozen lawsuits that allege sexual abuses by priests were filed Thursday ahead of what lawyers suggest could be a deadline to file legal action two years after the release of a grand jury report that detailed claims involving Catholic dioceses throughout Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh lawyer Alan Perer filed...
Hempfield attacker pleads guilty, begs judge to stay in jailVideo
All Ian Smail knew was he was brutally beaten by his Hempfield neighbor last year, an attack that left him in a coma for 11 days. It wasn’t until later that he realized his injuries were far more severe and included dozens of slash wounds to his face and a...
Sewage treatment plant in Avonmore to get $3.3 million upgrade
The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County board on Wednesday approved the financing for construction of an upgraded sewer plant in Avonmore. The $3.3 million project will upgrade the 50-year-old plant that services more than 400 sewer customers in the borough. The work will be paid for by a $1.85 million...
New Westmoreland GOP head wants to expand on party’s success
The new chairman of Westmoreland County’s Republican Committee said he wants to keep the momentum that, for the last decade, propelled election day victories and voter registration surges that turned the local GOP from an afterthought to political dominance. “It wasn’t that long ago we were the group on the...
Giant slides at Mammoth Park to remain closed 2 more weeks
The Giant Slide at Mammoth Park in Mt. Pleasant will remain closed for at least two more weeks as Westmoreland County officials await safety reports from two independent investigators. Public Works Director Greg McCloskey reaffirmed Wednesday that officials believe the matching 100-foot metal slides are safe. Four of the five...
Lawyer: Jury trial only way to settle case involving contested Greensburg traffic stop
The lawyer for a Pittsburgh man awaiting trial in Westmoreland County on drug charges that he says resulted from an illegal traffic stop two years ago in Greensburg said he has no choice but to ask a jury to resolve the case. Christopher Batch, 31, was charged in November 2018...
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...
North Huntingdon man paroled for string of burglaries
A North Huntingdon man on Monday was ordered to serve up to two years in jail for burglaries at two businesses, including a car parts store where he worked. Stephen Michael Wray, 41, was paroled after given credit for time he served since his arrest in July 2019 for break-ins...
Westmoreland Democrats formalize leadership changes in local party
New leadership of the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee will seek to reverse what has been two decades of election losses and erosion of control the party held over local politics for decades. Over the weekend, Tara Yokopenic was named as the committee’s new chairwoman, formalizing the job she has performed...
Court approves $500 to help find witnesses for appeal of 1993 Jeannette murder case
A former Pittsburgh man serving life in prison for a deadly shooting during a Jeannette backyard party nearly three decades ago will be permitted to hire a private investigator to find new witnesses he claims can support a long-standing appeal. The lawyer for Eric Lamont Rudolph, 48, told a Westmoreland...
Jury quickly convicts man in 2019 Ligonier Township arson case
It took a Westmoreland County jury an hour Friday to convict a man of burning his Ligonier Township home last year. Brian W. McVicker, 55, of Laughlintown was found guilty of felony arson as well as risking catastrophe and criminal mischief in connection with a fire at a home he...
Jurors likely to deliberate Friday in Ligonier Township arson trial
Jury deliberations are expected to begin Friday in the arson trial of a Laughlintown man accused of torching his home last year in Ligonier Township. Prosecutors rested their case Thursday against Brian McVicker, 55, accused of setting fire to a century-old two-story home he lived in for free in exchange...
Westmoreland leaders say covid-19 grant awards will take longer than expected
Westmoreland commissioners said Thursday that $10 million in grants for local small businesses and nonprofits hurt by the coronavirus pandemic won’t be awarded until the end of August. The county received 500 grant applications by last week’s deadline. While officials originally suggested that money could begin to flow as early...
State reimburses Westmoreland for some voting machine expenses, talks to start Friday on finding next elections bureau head
Westmoreland County received a $3.4 million reimbursement from the state, which covers about 60% of the costs of new elections equipment purchased over the past year. That money, according to state guidelines, cannot be used to cover costs associated with the November presidential election, officials said. “It will have to...
Trial begins in case of Ligonier Township arson
A Laughlintown man spoke “gibberish” when he confessed to burning a home last year in Ligonier Township, his attorney said Wednesday. In his opening statement in the arson trial of Brian W. McVicker, defense attorney Tim Andrews said prosecutors cannot prove the Jan. 15, 2019, fire that destroyed a home...
Arnold man found guilty of intimidating witness before his son’s cop-killer trial last year
The father of the man sentenced to death for the murder of New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw was convicted Wednesday for the intimidation and retaliation of a potential witness at his son’s trial last year. After nearly six hours of deliberations, a Westmoreland County jury found Gregory Paul Baucum,...
Westmoreland sheriff uses antibody tests to screen deputies for coronavirusVideo
Westmoreland County deputy sheriffs won’t have week-long waits to determine if they’ve been infected with the coronavirus. Sheriff James Albert said Tuesday his office secured up to 50 rapid antibody tests that his staff will use as a diagnostic tool to determine the likelihood of exposure to the virus. “As...
Victim in New Kensington witness intimidation trial says she fears for her life
A New Kensington woman testified Tuesday she fears for her safety after her cooperation with investigators was publicly disclosed during the prosecution of a man sentenced to death for the murder of a police officer. Tasha Williams, 39, told a Westmoreland County jury her life may still be in jeopardy...
Jailed Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez again seeks bail, this time over covid-19 fears
The lawyer for Felipe Vazquez on Monday filed an emergency request to secure bond for the suspended Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher who claimed he was exposed to the coronavirus last week in a Westmoreland County courthouse holding cell. According to court documents, Vazquez, 29, contends he is at risk for covid-19...
Westmoreland election director resigns 3 months out from election day
Westmoreland County officials Monday confirmed the resignation of the elections bureau director, a move that comes as preparations continue for the presidential general election just three months away. Commissioner Doug Chew said Beth Lechman last week notified county leaders of her decision to exit the job she has held since...
Westmoreland restarts criminal trials with case against Rahmael Holt’s father
After a four-month hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic, jury trials resumed Monday in Westmoreland County. A 12-member jury and two alternates were selected to hear evidence in a witnesses intimidation case against the father of the man convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of New Kensington police...
500 nonprofits, small businesses seek pandemic grants in Westmoreland County
About 500 applications for Westmoreland County’s coronavirus-relief grants started being evaluated Monday, and the first awards from a pool of $10 million could be approved this week. County commissioners last month announced the first phase of its grant program that uses $31.5 million in federal funds to assist small businesses,...
Westmoreland judge, staff being tested for covid-19 after inmate tests positive
A Westmoreland County judge and four members of his courtroom staff will be tested this weekend for the coronavirus after they were potentially exposed this week through a jail inmate. The inmate’s positive diagnosis was disclosed Friday morning. Court officials said the inmate had been in quarantine at the county...
Westmoreland Manor halts family visits after employee tests positive for coronavirus
Westmoreland officials on Friday reported an employee at the county-owned nursing home tested positive for the coronavirus and, as a result, outdoor visitation of residents, which started earlier this week, are temporarily halted. According a statement issued by county Solicitor Melissa Guiddy, county officials learned the employee had not been...
