Verdicts reached in Fayette courts
Several verdicts were reached during last week’s term of criminal court in Fayette County, including that of a Smithfield man acquitted of all charges in an alleged sex abuse case. Jurors heard two days of testimony before reaching not guilty verdicts on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault lodged against Craig Stewart, 28.
State police had alleged that Stewart sexually abused a 12-year-old girl between January 2000 and April 30, 2002.
Jurors also acquitted 21-year-old Bernard Richardson of Lincoln Street, Uniontown, of possession and possession with intent to deliver cocaine on Nov. 25, 2004.
Charges against Richardson stemmed from a Redstone Township traffic stop.
Police alleged he threw the drugs out of the window of his car.
In other verdicts handed down:
– Lora Gallagher, 27, of Uniontown was convicted of possession and possession with intent to deliver 2.04 grams of cocaine on Dec. 21, 2005, in North Union Township. She will be sentenced at a later date before Judge John F. Wagner Jr.
– Tremaine J. Spillman, 20, of Pittsburgh was acquitted of an alleged Oct. 13, 2005, simple assault in Uniontown.
– Ronald L. Smith Jr., 28, of Smithfield was acquitted of burglary, criminal trespass and theft by unlawful taking for allegedly breaking into a trailer on June 24, 2005, and stealing a microwave and other items.
– Rodney Allen Sumey, 40, of Chestnut Ridge was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, false reports to law enforcement and disorderly conduct stemming from a Dec. 23, 2005, incident in Brownsville. He will be sentenced at a later date before Judge Ralph C. Warman.
– Millard Nelson Fisher III, 36, of Friendsville, Md., was acquitted of aggravated assault and terroristic threats, but convicted of simple assault and reckless endangerment. The charges stemmed from a Jan. 6 incident in North Union Township. Judge John F. Wagner Jr. will sentence Fisher at a later date.
– James Darrell Gemas, 30, of Fairbank was convicted of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault in an Nov. 10, 2005, incident in Brownsville. Gemas will be sentenced at a later date before Judge Gerald R. Solomon.
– Cathy Lynn Cochran, 31, of Charleroi was found not guilty of criminal conspiracy to commit unauthorized use of a vehicle. Charges stemmed from a Jan. 5 incident in Washington Township.
– Frank Hunter Bowers, 44, of Mill Run was acquitted of two counts each of harassment and reckless endangerment and one count of disorderly conduct related to a Sept. 23, 2005, arrest in Wharton Township. Bowers was charged with harassing Lori Beth Hensley and Thomas David Hensley II.