Woman faces charges
CONNELLSVILLE – A city woman charged with allegedly leaving her toddler unattended and striking her niece in a separate incident, will have both matters heard by a Fayette County Court of Common Pleas judge, following two Thursday preliminary hearings. Colletta L. Weimer, 28, of 141 Gibson Terrace, is charged with endangering the welfare of children by Connellsville police in connection with a Sept. 22 incident when her 2-year-old child was found in the residence with no adult supervision and endangering the welfare of children, simple assault and harassment in connection with an Oct. 24 incident when police allege she intentionally struck her 9-year-old niece with a belt.
During testimony in the first matter, police Ptlm. William Hammerle testified before Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty that he was dispatched to the Gibson Terrace apartment complex and found the toddler clothed only in a diaper and sitting on a bed in an upstairs bedroom.
“Was there any other human being in the house other than the child?” asked Fayette County Assistant District Attorney Mark Brooks.
“No,” responded Hammerle.
During cross-examination by defense counsel attorney Diane Zerega, Hammerle testified that the child’s father, Douglas Franks, did arrive at the residence but did not indicate that he had left the child unattended.
“Did he have anything with him such as groceries?” asked Zerega.
Hammerle said that he was advised that Franks had been in Lemont Furnace prior to his arrival at the apartment complex.
In the second hearing, Brian Davis, Fayette County Children and Youth Services intake investigator testified that he had been dispatched to Zachariah Connell Elementary School to speak to the 9-year-old and found her to have several lacerations on her face.
Davis told Brooks that the youngster explained that her injuries were the result of a beating by her aunt.
“She said that she and her cousins had been asked to clean a room and when they didn’t, Aunt Colletta hit her in the face with a belt,” said Davis.
The child was taken to Highlands Hospital for a medical examination, he added.
During cross-examination by Zerega, Davis said the child later changed her statement to that she had moved and was accidentally struck.
“It is not inappropriate to discipline a child,” said Zerega during closing arguments.
Brooks, however, countered that in addition to her original statement to Davis and later giving the same information to Highlands Hospital medical staff, the charges should be held over for court.
“How do you accidentally swing a belt?” asked Brooks.
Haggerty ruled that all charges be held for court.
Weimer remains free on a $10,000 bond.