Court briefs
Suspect acquitted Timony Lee Redman, 36, of was acquitted of driving under the influence of alcohol in Fayette County Court. Redman was charged with DUI on March 27, 2000. Jurors who heard the case in January deadlocked on a decision.
Guilty plea entered
A Vestaburg man pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit theft and criminal conspiracy and will receive supervised probation. Fayette County prosecutors dropped burglary and other more serious charges levied against Larry Suba, 21, as part of the plea. Suba, according to court records, broke into a High Street home in Brownsville on Feb. 10. He was originally offered one to two years in prison, but rejected that offer. It was revamped into the current sentence.
Defendant admits crime
A Uniontown man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl between December 1999 and November 2001. Jesus James Franklin, 29, of 27 Wilson Ave. will spend 11 1/2 to 23 months in the county prison in exchange for a guilty plea to indecent assault and corruption of minors. Prosecutors dropped more serious charges of aggravated indecent assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse as well. The victim told state police that Franklin molested her at the Wilson Avenue residence and at a Hickory Street home in North Union Township over nearly two years. According to court records, Franklin threatened to break the girl’s neck if she told anyone. In an interview with police after he was charged, Franklin denied abusing the girl. In September, Franklin rejected a four to eight year prison term for the abuse.
Jurors deliberate
Jurors deliberated Wednesday in a driving under the influence case in which Charles W. Younkin stood charged. Younkin, 27, of 558 Dry Hill Road, Connellsville allegedly drove drunk in Upper Tyrone Township on May 6. State police allege his blood-alcohol content was .20 – twice the legal limit for driving in Pennsylvania.