Court briefs
Plea delayed A Fayette County judge delayed a guilty plea for a Springfield Township man on charged with setting fires to several businesses and homes on Monday at the request of his attorney.
Robert F. Ray Jr., 25, of 1066 Tabor Road was offered a plea of five to 10 years in prison for setting fires at four businesses and two homes between Dec. 12, 2005 and Feb. 23, 2006. His attorney, Nicholas Timperio, asked Judge John F. Wagner Jr. to delay the plea because prosecutors had not filed discovery documents relating to the arson counts.
Discovery is the exchange of information, like police reports or witness interviews, between the prosecution and the defense. Wagner granted the continuance and told First Assistant District Attorney Jack R. Heneks Jr. that the district attorney’s office has 10 days to file the documents.
The fires were at the Dollar General Store in Bullskin Township on Dec. 12, 2005, and Feb. 8, 2006, the BFS store on Memorial Boulevard in Dunbar Township on Feb. 8 and 14, 2006, Dollar Tree in North Union Township on Feb. 22 and the Ye Olde Inn in Dunbar Township on Feb. 23.
Ray also was charged with setting fire to a Mount Tabor Road home on Jan. 11, 2006, and a home at 230 Circle Drive in Bullskin Township.
He is charged with 14 felony arson in connection with the incidents. He is in Fayette County Prison on $215,000 bond.
Trial continued
The trial for a former adult probation officer accused of lying to police after a 2003 automobile accident was continued until September in Fayette County Court on Monday.
Robert Breakiron Jr. allegedly told state police that his BMW was stolen from his garage on Oct. 19, 2003, but police allege he wrecked the vehicle and concocted a story. Later, police allege, he came clean about the accident.
He was charged for both leaving the scene of the accident at the intersection of Crawford Avenue and Breakneck Road in Connellsville and falsely reporting his vehicle stolen.
Breakiron’s attorney, Mark F. Morrison, requested a continuance of the trial while he files an application for the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program. When a representative from the state attorney general’s office opposed a continuance on that ground, Morrison also said ongoing health problems would preclude him from going to trial in the case this month.
Judge John F. Wagner granted the delay in light of Morrison’s health problems, but rescheduled the trial for next month.
The state attorney general’s office is handling the case because Breakiron is the son of Bullskin Township Magisterial District Judge Robert Breakiron Sr.
Options studied
A Fayette County judge has ordered the adult probation office to determine whether an attempted homicide suspect is a viable candidate for the house arrest program that includes electronic monitoring and work release.
Robert Karwatske II, 22, of Uniontown was charged with beating Thelma Turner, 44, with a crowbar on May 13 at his Crossland Avenue apartment.
During a hearing last month requesting that Judge Steve P. Leskinen reduce his $100,000 bail, Karwatske testified that he was the one attacked by Turner, whom he paid in exchange for sex. He testified he acted in self-defense, a claim Leskinen indicated jurors would have to evaluate.
Karwatske received 20 stitches and Turner needed 65 staples to close their respective head wounds after the attack.
Leskinen directed the adult probation office to complete an assessment within 20 days, before he determines if the bond amount will be lowered.