State briefs
Woman avoids jail BUTLER, Pa. (AP) – A woman will avoid significant jail time but will have to place flowers on a grave, write letters of apology and stop drinking after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a crash last year that killed a wrestling coach and left his pregnant wife in a coma.
Jennifer Langston, 27, of Cabot, pleaded guilty Monday to homicide by motor vehicle, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and driving at an unsafe speed in the June 15, 2002 accident that killed Glenn Clark, a teacher and coach in the Mars Area School District, and left his wife, Annette, in a coma. Annette Clark remains in a coma but her son was born by cesarean section on Nov. 22.
A judge may order Langston to post pictures of the Clarks in the jail cell where she will spend a month. For five years, she must place flowers on Glenn Clark’s grave on the anniversary of the crash and carry a photo of the family in her wallet. She must write letters of apology to the families and the school district.
Prosecutors said Langston was drunk and talking on a cell phone when she crossed the center line and hit the Clarks’ vehicle head-on.
Man faces prison
SOMERSET, Pa. (AP) – A man faces up to 40 years in prison after his conviction in the death of his girlfriend’s 17-month-old son last year.
A Somerset County jury deliberated for less than three hours Monday before finding Todd Mitchell, 23, of Meyersdale, guilty of third-degree murder in the April 23, 2002, death of Alexander Stull.
District Attorney Jerry Spangler said he was satisfied with the verdict, although he was seeking a first-degree murder conviction and the death penalty.
Spangler acknowledged that the case was largely circumstantial, especially after an alleged confession Mitchell supposedly sent to a jailed friend turned out to be false. Prosecutors also said they didn’t know what caused the boy’s fatal head injuries but said Mitchell was the only adult home at the time.
Mitchell’s attorney, Jerry Kaharick, was subdued after the verdict.
“I will not fault the jury for their decision,” Kaharick said.
Hearing waived
CARLISLE, Pa. (AP) – A woman waived her preliminary hearing on charges that she pointed a loaded hunting rifle at three children and a police officer.
Camille A. Enders, 44, of North Middletown Township, faces three counts of simple assault and one count of disorderly conduct.
Ender’s lawyer said his client belonged to a “military family” and was stressed about having a son in Iraq and other children in the service.
“We think the stress of having them in harm’s way has been difficult for her to handle,” attorney John Abom said.
Police said Enders was drunk on the morning of Sept. 8, when she allegedly pointed a rifle at three children. Abom acknowledged that alcohol abuse played a role in the incident. Enders dropped the weapon after an armed township officer confronted her.
Enders has “agreed to a prohibition of alcohol use and possession of any weapon,” Abom said.
Fund-raiser opposed
YORK, Pa. (AP) – A letter from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg encourages parishes not to participate in an annual fund-raiser run by a group that supports some programs that distribute condoms in Africa.
The letter states that Bishop Nicholas Dattilo is urging parishes against participating in Church World Service’s CROP WALK, scheduled for Oct. 5, because the programs in question violate church teachings against contraceptives.
The Rev. Patrick Walker, a regional director for Church World Service in Harrisburg, said the cooperative ministry spends less than one-tenth of a percent of its total expenditures on condom-distribution.
About 40 churches and other community groups have signed up to take part in the annual event.
“We’re in such a painful situation,” Walker said. “But the partnership isn’t over. We’re still walking side by side.”
Doctor accused
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. (AP) – A karate instructor who filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against an orthopedic surgeon accused the doctor of botching a knee surgery that temporarily left him with a limp.
Thomas M. Melchiorre, 34, of Berwick, testified Monday against Dr. David Ball, who was asked to perform an arthroscopic surgery in 1998 to repair a torn ligament in Melchiorre’s right knee.
Melchiorre, who twisted a joint while performing a karate move, said he could not straighten his leg or walk normally after Ball performed surgery. His lawsuit seeks damages and lost earnings resulting from a grafting procedure to repair an injured anterior cruciate ligament.
Melchiorre said he now walks fine after undergoing two surgical procedures by another orthopedic surgeon, who redid Ball’s grafting work and removed scar tissues from his knee. He said he could walk normally after a year of therapy.
Ball has denied any negligence.
Barricades rejected
CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. (AP) – The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has decided against erecting barricades or protective fencing along the span of a bridge where 20 people have committed suicide in the last 25 years.
The decision Monday, made jointly by commission engineers and bridge department employees, came a day after a man leapt to his death from the bridge.
The commission has rejected fencing as too expensive and not logistically feasible. Carl DeFebo, commission public affairs manager, said he doubted a barricade would succeed in deterring people from jumping.
“At this point, we have no immediate plans to erect a fence on that bridge,” he said. “But we are continuing the dialogue to see what can be done to help prevent (suicides) in the future.”
South Abington Township Police Chief Robert Gerrity and township supervisors proposed installing fencing on the bridge after two suicides last year.
Rally planned
STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) – A homeowners’ advocacy group is planning a rally in Washington, D.C. in response to alleged home-sales fraud in the Poconos.
The Poconos Homeowners Defense Association said the Oct. 6 rally will take place in front of the White House, the Justice Department and FBI headquarters.
The association is seeking more aggressive prosecution of fraud allegations, which include use of inflated appraisals and coercion, and also wants the FBI to rejoin the investigation.
The state Attorney General’s Office has already filed two civil lawsuits, including one that accused a Poconos builder and executives at his company of using deceptive sales tactics to persuade buyers to purchase homes at inflated prices.
The PHDA has protested or marched in Washington, near the state capital in Harrisburg and outside the Monroe County Courthouse.
Guard charged
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) – A prison guard was charged with simple assault for allegedly pulling an inmate into a chair after grabbing him by the neck.
Steven Romig, 41, a guard at Northampton County Prison, is accused of grabbing inmate Donald Dilliard on July 15 in response to what prosecutors called a “vulgar” comment.
Romig was charged Monday, several days after being suspended without pay in a separate incident, officials said.
Dilliard made a “derogatory remark” while eating breakfast with other inmates on the morning of the alleged attack, Northampton County District Attorney John M. Morganelli said Monday. Dilliard, 22, complained of back pain and was given medical treatment after the alleged altercation.
Romig declined to comment on the allegations. Dilliard was in prison for allegedly stealing a purse and using six credit cards, according to court records.