Court briefs
Judge declares mistrial A Fayette County trial in which a woman was accused of embezzling $115,589.77 from her employer ended in a mistrial because the judge handling the case briefly dealt with the matter as a prosecutor.
Judge Steve P. Leskinen was consulted in Tammy J. Mattie’s case while he was still in the district attorney’s office. He declared a mistrial Tuesday.
Mattie, 34, is charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. She was the secretary at Laurel Highlands Motorsports, Inc., a business owned by Gilbert Klein. She started handling the monetary affairs of the business after Klein took ill, according to state police.
Between June 1, 1998 and Aug. 9, 2000, police allege that Mattie entered fake expenses into the North Union Township business’ check ledger and made checks out to herself instead.
In one instance, police allege that Mattie listed a $56 bill for Columbia Gas, but instead made a $5,600 check out to herself.
Testimony to continue
Testimony in a drug case lodged against a Brownsville woman is scheduled to pick up this morning in Fayette County Court.
Chanel Harris, 19, of 1701 Hunters Ridge allegedly admitted to police that she was selling drugs out of her home to help pay for her college education.
She was charged with possession and possession with intent to deliver 29.1 grams of crack cocaine Redstone Township Police Capt. H. Dennis Field allegedly found in her home last April 12. She also had $2,500 in cash in her home at the time, police allege.
Harris is also charged with criminal conspiracy in the matter, which is being tried before Judge Ralph C. Warman.
Jurors to get case
Fayette County jurors will hear the charge of the law this morning in the case lodged against 38-year-old Delbert W. Victor Jr.
State police allege that the 33 Lemon Wood Acres, North Union Township, man talked suggestively about sex to a 9 and 11-year-old girl in 2000.
He is charged with two counts of corruption of minors and two counts of unlawful contact or communication with a minor. That relatively new law prohibits adults from making sexually suggestive comments to minors, according to Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Kovach.
President Judge William J. Franks is presiding over the case.
Man found not guilty
John Ritter III of Perryopolis was found not guilty of assaulting his sister at her Route 51 home last August.
Police charged that Ritter, 26, went to the home of his sister, Jennifer Ritter, around 6:45 p.m. on Aug. 1, 2001. At that time, he allegedly spit in her face and hit her in the face with a closed fist.
Police charged him with simple assault and defiant trespass, but jurors acquitted him Monday in Fayette County Court.
Man convicted
John B. Smith, 32, address unknown was convicted of fleeing from police after he drove away from Uniontown Police Detective Phillip Jones last May 7.
Jones, according to court documents, saw Smith along Austin Street and had a warrant for his arrest. When he tried to pull Smith over, however, Jones said that he fled in a vehicle. After a brief chase, Smith wrecked the car he was driving into a stump at the end of Wilson Avenue.
Jones said he ran, but was apprehended a short time later.
Smith will be sentenced at a later date.