Two sheriffs lash out at Pittsburgh district judge over bail decision

Sheriffs in two different states on Friday ripped into a Pittsburgh district judge for releasing a man they called a “violent” defendant into the community instead of keeping him in jail.

The blistering comments from the sheriffs of Allegheny County and Polk County, Fla. came after sheriff’s deputies in Florida arrested Hermas Craddock on a warrant out of Pennsylvania.

Holding up photos of both Craddock and District Judge Xander Orenstein during a news conference, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd lashed out at the jurist for actions that the sheriff said endangered the community and his officers.

“Even though this guy is already out on bond for criminal charges and is facing more felonies, this goober smoocher let him go without posting a bond,” Judd said.

“Did you hear what I said? This guy, who the people of Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh expect to protect them and keep them safe, let a very dangerous man out into their community, and he immediately fled to Florida. His mistake was he came to Polk County.”

Craddock, 37, of Sharpsburg, was arrested Thursday at an Airbnb in Davenport, Fla., that was rented for him, Judd said.

The sheriff said it should never have gotten to that point.

“He should have been locked up,” Judd said.

Orenstein, reached Friday night, said he was aware of the statements by the sheriffs. He declined to comment.

“It would be inappropriate for me to make statements, especially on ongoing cases,” Orenstein said. “I’m not going to even approach anything that could be viewed as an improper statement.”

Earlier this month, Craddock was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police. At the time he was already free on bond for a pending gun case.

Troopers accused Craddock of being high on drugs while leading them on a high-speed chase through Allegheny County during which they said he drove on curbs, nearly rammed two patrol cars and tossed a gun out the window.

On April 10, Orenstein, whose main courtroom is in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, arraigned Craddock on charges related to the chase.

Orenstein, already a controversial figure for at least one previous bail decision, released Craddock on non-monetary bond, meaning Craddock did not have to put up any cash or collateral to ensure his next court appearance.

In doing so, Orenstein disregarded a recommendation by Allegheny County’s pre-trial services division to deny bond and keep Craddock jailed.

Upon learning of Craddock’s release, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office objected and asked that his bond be revoked.

An Allegheny County Common Pleas Court judge did just that this week and issued a bench warrant for Craddock, but it was too late. Craddock had fled.

Meanwhile, Allegheny County court administrators came down on Orenstein and barred him from hearing arraignments, which is the initial stage of a criminal proceeding when bond is set for newly arrested defendants.

Orenstein is still allowed to preside over other judicial proceedings.

“This guy still can hear criminal cases in Pittsburgh,” Judd said. “Well, listen, you don’t have a qualified judge here. You have a nut with a black coat on.”

Judd rattled off the long list of gun, drug, gun, assault and other charges Craddock faces. He noted that Allegheny County will now have to spend money to extradite the defendant back to Pittsburgh from a Florida jail.

Judd pinned the blame squarely on Orenstein.

“He is reckless, and the people of Pittsburgh ought to say, ‘Huh-uh, we don’t want the likes of this dude who lets violent criminals out,’” Judd said.

“If you want to see a total failure as a judge,” Judd said, tapping the photo of Orenstein against a lectern for emphasis,” here’s a picture.”

Allegheny County sheriff upset, too

Earlier in the day, Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus teed off on Orenstein.

During a conference call with reporters, Kraus said Orenstein’s record of releasing suspects who could be considered flight risks and threats to the community “causes hardship for law enforcement” and costs taxpayers when sheriffs have to track wanted people down across the nation.

Kraus said Craddock had shown himself to be a “violent individual” who could pose a threat to others. Putting him back into the street, the sheriff said, was “irresponsible, if not reckless.”

The sheriff said he understood that there are “different philosophies” about cash bail, but said that at the end of the day, “public safety and the safety of the community and the safety of our family members is paramount.”

“There’s a pattern with this certain magistrate,” Kraus said of Orenstein. “There’s considerations that are required by law to take into consideration as it relates to bail. I think there’s a different agenda that’s interfering with that with this person.”

Previous case

Orenstein came under fire in September after releasing on non-monetary bond Yan Carlos Pichardo Cepeda, a New York City man accused of trafficking 9 kilograms of fentanyl in the Pittsburgh area.

In that case, Orenstein granted a non-monetary bond at arraignment, going against a no-release recommendation made by pre-trial services. Cepeda didn’t show up for a court hearing and was the subject of a nationwide arrest warrant.

On Wednesday, a transportation order was signed by an Allegheny County judge, and Kraus said sheriff’s deputies will bring Pichardo Cepeda back to Pittsburgh after he’s released from custody in New York.