Former Uniontown QB sentenced to probation for assault case
Former Uniontown Area High School quarterback Carl Farrell Jr. was sentenced Tuesday to two years probation for indecent assault, simple assault and unlawful restraint and harassment. Farrell, 18, of 131 S. Grant St., Uniontown, was initially scheduled to be sentenced in late July, but his departure for a Mississippi junior college pushed up his sentencing in Fayette County Court.
Uniontown police charged Farrell with assaulting a woman who offered to walk him home after a night of drinking to celebrate his 18th birthday.
The day he was to be sentenced – July 30 – will be Farrell’s 19th birthday.
Officer Eric Hanula filed charges after he was called to South Grant Street in the early morning hours of July 31 and was greeted by a woman, who visibly shaken, said Farrell assaulted her. The woman, who knew Farrell, told police he came to her home around 2 a.m. and told her he was “messed up” because it was his birthday.
The woman agreed to walk him home, and Farrell asked her for a hug, according to police. But Farrell wouldn’t let go, and the woman told police that he choked her and then dragged her down an alley where he reached up her skirt.
The woman broke free, but told police Farrell knocked her to the ground. She then tried to get into a Herald-Standard delivery van, but Farrell also pulled her out of the vehicle. The woman eventually ran to her parents’ yard and started screaming for help, according to police.
Farrell initially applied for the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program, which would have expunged his record if he successfully completed a probationary term, but District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon refused to accept him into the program.
Farrell, through his attorney, Nicholas Timperio, filed the paperwork for consideration in March. At that time, Vernon said she would have to review the request and speak with the victim to clarify if there was indecent touching.
When Vernon determined Farrell was ineligible for the program, he pleaded guilty in exchange for probation, which means he will have a criminal record.
Judge John F. Wagner Jr. also included in Farrell’s sentence 50 hours of community service to be served in accordance with his junior college schedule for his father, the pastor of a local church.
Wagner also agreed to Farrell participating in drug and alcohol and anger management programs in Mississippi.
Additionally, Farrell must give a sample of his blood to comply with the DNA Detection of Sexual and Violent Offenders act. That blood is banked and at the disposal of police agencies for use in cases of sexual assault to match up would-be suspects.
Farrell was a three-year starter for the Uniontown Red Raider football team and quarterbacked them to an undefeated regular season last year. He also was a member of the varsity basketball team for three years and played a key role in the Red Raiders winning the Class AAAA WPIAL championship this past season. He’s expected to play football in college.