Court briefs
August 13, 2006 The following verdicts were handed down during the past week of Fayette County Criminal Court:
Jurors convicted Barbara Kathleen Miller, 54, of 200 Marchland Ave. in Newell of terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person.
State police alleged that Miller threatened Charles Michael Carpinelli and pointed a pointed a loaded gun at him on July 24, 2005 at her home. Police said Miller told Carpinelli, “I’ll (expletive) kill you,” and other, similar things during the 10:45 p.m. confrontation at her home.
Miller will be sentenced at a later date.
Matthew William Pritts, 34, of 94 Georges St., Brownsville was acquitted of recklessly endangering another person.
Brownsville police alleged that Pritts pointed a handgun at Mark Frazee on Hollow Road in the borough around 9 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2004.
During the alleged confrontation, police claimed that Pritts threatened to harm Frazee.
Jurors acquitted Mark Anthony Kelley of all but one charge following his criminal trial.
Kelley, 41, of 406 Georges-Fairchance Road in Uniontown was found not guilty of a firearms violation, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, but convicted of terroristic threats.
State police allege he threatened to kill Timothy Sroka of Weaver Mill Road in Georges Township over a jet ski on Jan. 9, 2005.
In an interview with police, Kelley said he never threatened Sroka, but did have a conversation with him about the jet ski.
Kelley will be sentenced at a later date.
A Uniontown man was acquitted of the most serious offenses he faced during his criminal trial.
Jurors found Calvin Jay Huffman, 20, of 114 W. Berkley St. in Uniontown not guilty of burglary, aggravated assault, simple assault and conspiracy to commit burglary and aggravated assault. He was found guilty of criminal trespass and conspiracy to commit criminal trespass simple assault.
Connellsville police alleged that Huffman and another man kicked down the door of Darla Bennette’s 101 E. Morton Ave. home in Connellsville around 11:30 p.m. on March 16. While inside, police said Bennette was repeatedly hit by the men, and by objects in the house like drinking glasses and a vase.
Huffman will be sentenced at a later date.
Gary Marcus Michaux, 20, was convicted of robbery, recklessly endangering another person, theft by unlawful taking and conspiracy to commit theft and reckless endangerment.
State police charged Michaux with taking part in the robbery of the Kwik Fill gas station along Route 40 in Hopwood on New Year’s Eve 2004. Michaux and an accomplice took $85, nine lighters and one can of Skoal from the store, police said.
Michaux will be sentenced at a later date.
Jurors acquitted Christian Frezzell, 41, of 60 Askren St. in Uniontown of receiving stolen property.
Uniontown police alleged that Frezzell stole a grandfather clock and chest valued at $600 from the Lincoln Street home of Carolyn Stratiff and sold it at a Gallatin Avenue pawnshop for $45 on May 31, 2005.
Court records indicate that Frezzell told police that he bought the items outside the pawnshop from someone else for $20 and then took them inside and re-sold them.
Danny Eugene Brink was convicted of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Brink, 66, is listed as homeless in court records. State police indicated that Brink was pulled over for speeding along Route 40 in Wharton Township on Feb. 27. During the traffic stop, the trooper found out that Brink had warrants for his arrest.
He was taken into custody and searched, according to court records. Police found marijuana in his pants pocket, and a smoking pipe under the seat in his truck.
Brink will be sentenced at a later date.
Jurors convicted David Wassell, 42, of 310 Texas Ave. in Connellsville of retail theft.
State police charged him after a store clerk at the BFS Foods store in Dunbar Township was able to identify Wassell as the man who asked for four cartons of Marlboro cigarettes, then grabbed them and ran from the store without paying on April 14, 2005.
Wassell will be sentenced at a later date.
Charles Jacob Boord, 21, of Point Marion was found not guilty of burglary, theft by unlawful taking and criminal mischief following a trial.
State police alleged that Boord, of 101 2nd St., and a juvenile broke into the Springhill Township mobile home of Larry Jeffries on Nov. 27, 2004. Police alleged they took various electronics from the home.
Jurors found James Charles Lewis Jr., 38, of 212 Bank St. in Brownsville guilty of driving under the influence of a drug.
Brownsville police came into contact with Lewis after he got into a car accident along Market street in the borough on Feb. 10, 2004 near midnight. Police said that Lewis had slurred speech and did not seem alert. He acknowledged having taken two muscle relaxers, but refused a blood test, court documents indicate.
Lewis will be sentenced at a later date.
Anthony McClelland Jr., 42, of 80 Millview St. in Uniontown was convicted of receiving stolen property for taking a 65-inch Sony television set stolen off of a truck.
Court records indicated that McClelland took the set in exchange for drugs in late February 2005. Police charged that two others took 10 sets from a truck.
McClelland will be sentenced at a later date.
Joseph Andrew “Scooby” Brown, 36, of 439 Greene St. in Brownsville was convicted of conspiracy to commit retail theft.
State police charged Brown after a woman with him took a purse and closing from the Wal-Mart in South Union Township on Dec. 1, 2004. Police said Brown was waiting inside the store for the woman.
A security guard at the store saw the woman take the items and watched her interact with Brown. The guard also took down the plate number of the car in which the two drove away.
Brown will be sentenced at a later date.