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Court briefs

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Mistrial declared A burglary case ended up in a mistrial Tuesday in Fayette County Court after the key witness testified she met Edward Koontz after he was released from prison on an unrelated matter.

Lisa Mae Scherer, whose home Koontz alleged broke into and then set on fire, made that statement to jurors while on the stand. Judge Ralph C. Warman declared a mistrial because the mention of prior prison time could possibly prejudice the panel hearing the current case.

Koontz, 37, of Mount Pleasant allegedly started a fire at Scherer’s 844 Kreinbrook Road, Bullskin Township home on Nov. 8, 2001. Before he reportedly started the blaze, state police allege he kicked in Scherer’s kitchen door and entered the house without permission.

Police said Scherer hid in the basement and eventually ran out of the house and to her car with Koontz following. She drove to a neighbors and called police, and Koontz reportedly followed her there.

After Koontz reportedly yelled that he loved Scherer, he allegedly stole her car and drove back to her home, where police claim he set the home on fire.

Koontz is charged with arson, burglary, theft and receiving stolen property.

His case will be rescheduled for trial in the coming months.

Man convicted

A Fayette County jury convicted 36-year-old Charles Edward Beal of possession of Oxycodone and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Redstone Township police found one 20 milligram Oxycodone tablet in Beal’s pocket when they searched him after a traffic stop. They also found a straw they believe could be used to snort drugs.

The charges against Beal stemmed from a stop along Legion Street in Republic on Feb. 15, 2002.

Judge Gerald R. Solomon, who presided over the case, will sentence Beal at a later date.

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