Paul Peirce stories, Page 16
2 women accused of siphoning money from incarcerated Hempfield woman’s trust funds
Two Hempfield women are accused of stealing more than $100,000 from trust funds they had access to while a relative of one of the women was in prison for a purse snatching spree, according to court documents. The state attorney general’s office this week charged Roni K. Boltich, 35, and...
Western Pa. nonprofits get part of $12M in grants for substance abuse recovery
A $700,000 federal grant to Hempfield-based Sage’s Army announced by Gov. Tom Wolf will enable the nonprofit to continue its substance use recovery services through March 2023, according to acting executive director Rich Jones. “We have other sources of funding, but this is by far our largest source of funds...
Mt. Pleasant Area High School student reported missing found safe, police say
A 17-year-old Westmoreland County boy who had not been seen by family members since Sunday returned home safely Tuesday, according to Mt. Pleasant police. Devan Smith, a student at Mt. Pleasant Area High School, had been last seen Sunday in Cook Township and family members reported him missing to Mt....
Irwin man ordered to jail without bail for false imprisonment, assaulting woman
An Irwin man slated for hearings this month on accusations that he was peeping into neighborhood windows is now jailed without bail for locking a woman overnight in a storage trailer and assaulting her, according to court documents. Borough police arrested Russell Jay Little, 47, after the woman appeared at...
Troopers say man assaulted paramedics, damaged ambulance at homeless shelter in Derry Township
A homeless man was jailed early Sunday after state police charged him with assaulting two Mutual Aid paramedics and damaging an ambulance that was dispatched to treat him at a Derry Township shelter. Michael J. Muchnock III, 38, who has lived in Hempfield, was arrested on multiple criminal charges, including...
Indiana Borough police looking for stolen car, 3 suspects in reported carjacking
Indiana Borough police are seeking help in locating three men who carjacked an 18-year-old Indiana University of Pennsylvania student’s vehicle Sunday at gunpoint. Police said the car theft occurred at 8:14 p.m. when the student, driving another IUP student, pulled into a parking lot on the south side of 220...
4 men jailed without bond after running ‘Grandparent Scam’ in Allegheny, Westmoreland counties, troopers say
Four men are in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond after their arrests on theft and conspiracy charges for running what state police called a “Grandparent Scam” that bilked at least $250,000 from 10 senior citizens in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties since Monday. Terek Bouanane, 45, and Roderick E. Feurtado,...
Youngwood man charged a 2nd time with drug delivery resulting in death
A 69-year-old Youngwood man slated to stand trial on charges that he sold fentanyl-laced drugs to a West Virginia woman who died from an overdose was arrested this week after state police accused him of selling drugs that led to the death of a Mt. Pleasant man. Frank E. Bogley...
Man arrested after high-speed pursuit from Cheswick to Hempfield
A homeless man accused of stealing a car in Hempfield led police on a 40-mile chase at speeds of more than 100 mph Wednesday before he abandoned the vehicle and was arrested near the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s New Stanton interchange, officers said. Thomas W. Lee, 38, whose last known address is...
Troopers charge Hempfield man with possession of child pornography
A Hempfield man is in the county jail after his arrest Wednesday on charges of possessing 712 images of child pornography, according to state police. Scott J. Lynch, 59, of Clippinger Way was arrested after a six-month undercover investigation by the state police specialized computer crime unit. Officers allege Lynch...
Jeannette man ordered to stand trial in connection with teen’s shooting
A Jeannette man will stand trial in connection with the shooting of a 17-year-old boy in the city on April 7. After listening to the teen’s testimony Wednesday, District Judge Joseph DeMarchis ordered Brandon Lee Ingram, 24, to stand trial on charges of solicitation to commit homicide, solicitation to commit...
Megan’s Law offender from Butler County charged with sexually assaulting teen in Westmoreland
A Butler County man who was added to the state’s Megan’s Law registry for sexual offenders in the spring after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting an Allegheny County teen is now accused of assaulting a teenage girl in Westmoreland County. Kyler T. Chute, 22, of Evans City, has been in...
1 killed, 1 critically injured in motorcycle-car crash in Fayette County
A motorcyclist from Maryland was killed and his female passenger critically injured Sunday in a head-on collision with a car along National Pike in Henry Clay Township, Fayette County, according to state police in Uniontown. Rick W. Campbell, 45, of Dundalk, Md., was pronounced dead at Ruby Memorial Medical Center...
Latrobe man accused of biting city policeman during arrest for prowling, heroin possession
A 27-year-old Latrobe man taken into custody Saturday on charges of attempting to enter multiple vehicles and mailboxes in the city was also arrested for resisting arrest after biting and striking a police officer, according to court records. Codi J. Barger resisted attempts by police to place him in handcuffs...
West Newton man jailed after being charged with indecent exposure, assault
A 21-year-old West Newton man is in the county jail on $25,000 bond after his arrest on charges of indecent exposure and assault of a young girl who was visiting an apartment complex where he lives, according to court documents. Eric Espinosa, who lives in the Filbern Manor apartments on...
Ex-worker at Unity concrete company accused of assaulting former co-worker
An employee at a Unity concrete manufacturing firm was assaulted by a former worker of the firm who was not permitted on company grounds, according to state police. Patrick O. Donovan, 30, who also lives in the township, was arrested on charges of criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, harassment, resisting arrest,...
Ex-accounting coordinator for nonprofit sentenced to prison for embezzling $321K
A Swissvale woman who pleaded guilty earlier this year to embezzling $321,255 from a Pittsburgh nonprofit where she used to work was sentenced Thursday to serve 17 months in federal prison. Danielle Strother-Rush, 34, who was an accounting coordinator for the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council, a Pittsburgh nonprofit organization...
Westmoreland public defender arrested after incident at Seven Springs
A Westmoreland County assistant public defender was arrested Wednesday at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County, charged with kicking a state trooper, according to court documents. David E. Mulock, 36, who lives in Murrysville, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, public...
New Alexandria man accused in police chase faces more charges
A New Alexandria man who was jailed on $200,000 bond last week after he was charged with resisting arrest while fleeing Ligonier Valley police in a stolen car faces additional charges of theft, firearms and drug possession related to his capture Sept. 9 by state police. Jesse Vaughn Lawson, 27,...
Northbound I-79 at Neville Island Bridge closing again this weekend
Motorists who use Interstate 79 to travel north through Allegheny County can expect another round of traffic delays Friday through early Monday as a third installment of an ongoing $43 million rehabilitation project starts on the Neville Island Bridge. PennDOT District 11 said the northbound lanes of the span will...
State trooper in Mercer County suspended after arrest on forgery, tampering charges
Pennsylvania State Police announced a state trooper in Mercer County was arrested Wednesday on charges of falsifying his orders for military service with the Ohio Air National Guard. State Trooper Jamhal Simon, 35, of West Middlesex, is charged with forgery and tampering with records, both first-degree misdemeanors. Simon has been...
Motorcyclist seriously injured in Donegal Township crash, troopers say
A Youngwood man was airlifted to a Pittsburgh hospital after being seriously injured Monday in a motorcycle crash along Route 381 in Donegal Township, state police reported. Dennis M. Shoff, 68, injured his hip after he lost control of his 2020 Indian Scout motorcycle about 11:05 a.m., according to a...
Troopers trying to identify suspect in computer thefts at Butler County church
State police in Butler are asking the public’s help identifying a man who they say entered a rural church near Saxonburg early Monday and stole three computers. The New Life Christian Ministries Church at 139 Knoch Road in Clinton Township was entered about 1:45 a.m., according to Trooper Phillip Schneider....
Millvale police asking public’s help locating burglary suspect
Millvale police are asking the public’s help locating a 62-year-old man who was charged this week with committing multiple burglaries. Police are seeking Elwood Bartrug after he was identified on a home surveillance video breaking into one of the homes. Bartrug was captured on the video breaking into the home...
Va. couple wanted for questioning in disappearance of 3-year-old girl arrested in South Greensburg
A couple wanted by Virginia authorities for questioning in connection with the disappearance of a 3-year-old girl was arrested in a South Greensburg motel Sunday for having “two large rocks of methamphetamine” and multiple checks investigators say were stolen in Virginia, according to court documents. However, when state troopers and...
