Fairchance man facing bank robbery charges held for court
A Fairchance man, who is facing bank robbery and auto theft charges, was ordered held for court Monday on separate charges filed by Uniontown police alleging he threatened a woman and her daughter. John Bernard Smith, 34, of Fairchance was ordered held for court on charges of terroristic threats and harassment at a preliminary hearing before Uniontown Magisterial District Judge Mark Blair.
The case against Smith will be forwarded to Fayette County Court, where he will have a trial or accept a plea agreement.
Smith has preliminary hearings pending on charges stemming from an Oct. 12 armed robbery at the National City Bank in Hopwood and on charges alleging he stole a car in Uniontown earlier that morning.
The threats incident occurred around 3:52 p.m. Sept. 5 at Tiffany Robinson’s Coolspring Street home, according to her testimony.
Under questioning from District Attorney Nancy Vernon, Robinson said that she and her 14-year-old daughter were outside in her porch when Smith approached and threatened to kill them.
While he was threatening them, he had his hands in his pants and appeared to be pointing a gun at them, Robinson said.
She said he asked her why she called Children and Youth Services on him.
Robinson said that Smith asked her: “Why are you trying to take my children?”
She said she told him that she did report him to CYS. She said told her daughter to go inside and then called police to report the incident.
Under cross-examination by public defender Mary Spegar, Robinson said she did not see Smith with a gun. Smith did not testify.
After holding the case for court, Blair returned Smith to the Fayette County Prison in lieu of $500 cash bond.
Smith is also being held in prison on bond from the other cases.