Pitcairn man charged with ethnic intimidation of neighbor

A Pitcairn man faces charges for allegedly causing damage to his neighbor’s property and ethnic intimidation.

James Cepec, 78, started harassing and intimidating his neighbor, a black woman, after a supposed dispute between them over property lines, according to a criminal complaint.

Pitcairn police Chief Scott Farally said the dispute began when Cepec placed tree logs on his neighbor’s property in May. His neighbor paid to remove them back onto Cepec’s property, but he moved them over again — this time using a bulldozer, Farally said.

“(She) believes the damage done to her property would cost about $2,000 to $2,500, but she has not had an official estimate done yet,” Farally said.

Cepec faced civil charges in May, but it escalated when he used racial slurs during the argument over property lines.

He faced Plum Magistrate Linda Zucco on July 10, where his case was moved to Monroeville Magistrate Jeffrey Herbst for a preliminary hearing in September. He faces charges of simple assault, intimidation of witnesses, harassment, defiant trespassing, criminal mischief and ethnic intimidation.