Courthouse briefs
The Messenger was recently presented with the following updated information regarding several unrelated court cases involving a number of Greene County residents. Petition denied The state Supreme Court denied a petition to review a 12-to-24-month prison sentence a Minnesota man received in Greene County court after he was convicted of simple assault and harassment in April 2007.
The length of the prison term John Edward Smith III, 47, of Lakeville, Minn., received was based on his prior criminal record and classification as a repeat felony offender, according to court documents.
State police filed the simple assault and harassment charges against Smith in September 2006.
A county jury found him guilty in April 2007 and Grimes sentenced him in July that year.
Smith’s appeal to the state Superior Court was also denied.
Work-release OK
Mark Diamond, 41, of Waynesburg was sentenced on July 9 in Greene County court to 2 to 23 ½ months in prison and granted work release privileges for drug possession charges filed by borough police on Dec. 29, 2008.
He pleaded guilty to possession of hashish, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana in May.
Charges of simple assault and harassment were withdrawn at his preliminary hearing.
Restitution ordered
A Waynesburg man was sentenced on July 9 in Greene County court to two years of intermediate punishment and ordered to pay restitution for two burglary cases.
Justin McElroy, 19, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft and criminal mischief charges state police filed following burglary at Lavern’s Restaurant in Jefferson in August 2008, and burglary, theft and criminal trespass charges borough police filed for the theft of a laptop computer in July 2008.
Monitoring ordered
Randall E. Hegedis, 51, of Mount Morris was sentenced on July 9 in Greene County court to three years of intermediate punishment including 14 months of electronic monitoring for driving under the influence charges.
Waynesburg police charged Hegedis with DUI and driving under a DUI-related suspension on Dec. 22, 2008. He pleaded guilty in May.