Iraq war vet’s hearing delayed
A preliminary hearing for an Iraq war veteran charged with three counts of attempted homicide was continued for a second time Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Dwight Shaner. Salvatore “Sam” Ross Jr. of 382 Hardy Hill Road, Dunbar, was charged with criminal attempted homicide, two counts aggravated assault, two counts of arson, terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and resisting arrest following the Feb. 13 incident. State police trooper Russell Freed said Ross, in a fit of rage, set fire to the Dunbar home of his brother’s girlfriend, Monica Cherie Kuhns, after she left Ross’ home Feb. 12 because Ross was allegedly using drugs.
Kuhns, along with her 3-year-old son and Ross’ girlfriend, Barbara Jane Hall, 24, of Dunbar, were able to get out of the house without injury, Freed said.
Ross also is accused of assaulting a Dunbar Township volunteer firefighter who responded to the blaze.
Ross, 24, is a former U.S. Army private with the 82nd Airborne, 307th Engineering Battalion. He was injured in May 2003, when a cluster of bombs exploded southwest of Baghdad, Iraq, causing Ross to lose his eyesight and his left leg.
Freed declined to comment on the case Tuesday but noted that Ross no longer is being held at the Fayette County Prison. However, Freed said Ross did remain in police custody.
Initially, Ross was placed in prison on $250,000 straight cash bond. A new date for the hearing has not been scheduled.