Court briefs
Man convicted A Bentleyville man was convicted Tuesday of driving under the influence of alcohol by a panel of Fayette County jurors.
The jury found that Steve M. Hamilton, 22, of 721 Main St., was legally intoxicated when he ran into a concrete bridge on Clark Road in Jefferson Township on July 15, 2004. State police said his blood-alcohol level was .14 percent, over the legal limit of .08 percent for Pennsylvania drivers.
An arrest affidavit filed in the case indicated that a trooper was called to a Clark Street residence about 1:40 a.m. for a report of a disturbance. While a trooper was there, Hamilton allegedly returned and said he wrecked his car a quarter of a mile away.
The affidavit of probable cause indicated he smelled of alcohol, but told a trooper he was not drinking.
He will be sentenced at a later date before Fayette County Judge John F. Wagner Jr.
Evidence heard
Fayette County jurors heard evidence Tuesday in the theft case against Robert Jermaine Baily, 33, of Philadelphia.
State police allege that Baily, of 3053 Bonsel St., stole a 1994 Chevrolet Blazer from Rick Clifford Fowler. Police said Fowler let Baily drive his sport utility vehicle to the Route 51 Exxon in North Union Township on April 6.
When Fowler went inside to buy tobacco, police allege Baily drove away. Fowler, according to court documents, told police he did not give Baily permission to take the Blazer.
The trial will continue this morning before Judge Steve P. Leskinen.
Inmate in court
An inmate at the State Correctional Institution at Fayette was in criminal court Tuesday to be tried on charges that he stabbed another inmate in the neck with a homemade knife.
Robert Lex, 42, is charged with aggravated assault for allegedly stabbing Hector Rosa at the Luzerne Township state prison about 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 26, 2004. Rosa, 28, sustained only superficial wounds, police said.
Inmate Dakar Tavarus, 45, tried to deflect the attack, according to court records.
All three men were in prison for charges stemming from Philadelphia, according the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Web site.
The trial will pick up this morning before Judge John F. Wagner Jr.