CLEARFIELD- A Westover man accused of sexually assaulting two girls was found guilty on 24 of 28 counts after a three-day trial on Friday.

Moses C. Norris, 77, was determined to be guilty of two counts of rape of a child, three counts of attempted rape of a child, one count of statutory sexual assault, three counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, three counts of aggravated indecent assault, six counts of indecent assault, and six counts of corruption of minors. He was not guilty of two additional counts each of indecent assault and corruption of minors.

After the verdict was read, some of Norris’ family and friends cried and shook their heads.

Deputy Assistant District Attorney Trudy Lumadue asked specially presiding Senior Judge Daniel J. Milliron of Blair County to revoke Norris’ bail and take him into custody.

She noted that there is a concern for the victims because Norris had allegedly voiced threatens toward them.

Attorney Joshua Maines, who represented Norris, argued that he is not a flight risk, had no prior record and has health issues. He asked Norris remain on bail pending sentencing.

Milliron decided to revoke Norris’ bail because of the seriousness of the case, saying he had never before not revoked someone bail in a case like this.

Norris was then taken into custody. He will be sentenced within 60 days.

District Attorney Ryan Sayers issued a statement regarding the case.

“Justice was served today because these girls came forward and spoke up about the terrible acts committed against them. It is never easy for victims to come forward, but the strength of these girls is commendable.

“I am also proud of the hard work and diligence of Deputy Lumadue and First Assistant (Leanne) Nedza in prosecuting this case and helping these girls and their family get the justice they deserve.”

CLEARFIELD – A Halifax man is facing a felony charge for breaking into a Coalport home and passing out.

Justin Robert Williams, 31, was charged by state police with felony criminal trespass, misdemeanor criminal mischief and a summary count of public drunkenness after the incident that occurred Aug. 28 at 2:54 a.m.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the residents were awakened by a loud bang. When they checked on the source of the noise, they discovered the door was broken open and an unknown man was passed out, sleeping on their couch.

Although they made several attempts, he would not wake up. They had no idea who he was, they told authorities.

When police arrived, he was still sleeping and they were not able to wake him at first either. Eventually he woke and asked what was going on. He was identified as Williams.

Williams had left his shirt on the porch, was wearing wet shoes and had vomited on the furniture. Williams also “had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person,” according to the report.

Williams waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court, sending the case onto the court of common pleas for further disposition.

He is free on $15,000 bail.

Clearfield Borough

• Police and EMS responded to a Turnpike Avenue residence for a suspected overdose.  Emergency personnel arrived on-scene and assisted the male to the hospital. 
• Police received a report of a hit-and-run to a parked vehicle at a Weaver Street residence.  The investigation is ongoing at this time.
• Police responded to the area of West Market Street and NW Third Avenue for a reported suspicious female who was reportedly knocking on the windows of a residence.  Police arrived on-scene and found the female to be heavily intoxicated. Charges were subsequently filed.
• Police received a report of an unresponsive female on the front porch of an East Walnut Street residence.  Upon arrival, officers found the female to be heavily intoxicated.  EMS was summoned to the scene and transported the female to the hospital.
• Police attended a remembrance ceremony for the events that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.  

CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield teen accused of breaking into an old school and vandalizing it, pleaded guilty Monday during colloquy court.

Police say Jonathan Edward Albright, 19, was involved in three other cases all in March in Clearfield Borough.

He was sentenced by President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman to a total of 11 months to two years less one day in the county jail with eight years probation for burglary and corruption of minors in the school case, burglary in a second case, corruption of minors in a third case and defiant trespass in a fourth case.

He was ordered to pay over $5,700 in restitution.

Prior to sentencing, Ammerman noted that the graffiti left in the former Third Ward School was “absolutely disgusting” and questioned how Albright and a juvenile were able to cause extensive damage to a bathroom without a sledge hammer.

Albright’s attorney, Ryan Dobo, stated that Albright now realizes his actions were just stupid and childish.

According to the affidavit in the first case, when police arrived at the scene on March 25, the owner showed them the flush pipes from the toilets were lying in the hallway.

“Almost every room in the building was severely damaged.”

This damage included broken windows, light fixtures ripped from the ceiling, thermostats ripped from the wall, holes in the walls, sinks ripped out, ceiling tiles pulled down, baseboard heaters ripped out and one wall was pushed down to gain access to another room.

Access to the building was made through the glass doors that face Weaver Street, which had its hinges popped out.

The investigation began with officers calling the phone number written in the graffiti who identified Albright and a juvenile female who was now dating him as possible suspects.

When she was questioned, the juvenile admitted to entering and damaging the building with Albright.

In the other burglary case, Albright and a juvenile entered into a storage garage at a Reed Street business through a removed window pane. Surveillance video showed the two then rummaged around before getting into a vehicle and moving it a few feet.

In the corruption of minors case, Albright and the juvenile were seen on video taking a can of alcohol, which the juvenile concealed on her person before they left without paying for it.

The defiant trespass case stems for a break-in at the grandstand at the Clearfield County Fairgrounds.

CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man is behind bars after large quantities of suspected crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl were found in his motel room.

Joshua D. McLaughlin, 31, is charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (two counts), resisting arrest, make/repairs/sell, etc. offensive weapon and related offenses.

The investigation began Monday when Lawrence Township police were called to assist state parole at a local motel room upon discovery of drugs.

McLaughlin – who is currently on state parole – had also reportedly provided a “fake urine” sample, according to a department-issued news release.

Inside the room, officers observed a prohibited offensive weapon, as well as a large bag of suspected crystal methamphetamine in plain view.

McLaughlin then attempted to run from authorities, and even after one of the officers deployed a taser, he continued to resist arrest, police said.

A search allegedly turned up approximately 6.59 ounces of crystal meth; 2.29 ounces of fentanyl; and 3.6 grams of carfentanyl, plus numerous scales, packaging materials and $487.

The total value of the seized drugs is approximately $14,000, according to the news release.

McLaughlin is being held at Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 21 during centralized court.

CLEARFIELD – A contractor, who is charged for taking money for a project he never started, pleaded guilty Tuesday.

According to the affidavit, a couple gave Gregory Thomas Deangelo, 36, Derry, $33,500 in October of 2020 and then an additional $24,000 in November of 2020 for a home improvement project in Madera.

The only work done was when three workers dug a trench in December of 2020.

He is charged with false statement to induce agreement for home improvement services and receives advance payment for services, both misdemeanors of the first degree.

The victim addressed the court explaining how he and his wife worked hard all their lives for their money, borrowed money to fix up their house, gave it to Deangelo and never saw him complete any work.

“We are paying interest on that money,” he said. This delay in their project, forced them to get a mortgage to pay for the needed improvements to be done by someone else.

District Attorney Ryan Sayers said the commonwealth offered a probation plea to Deangelo in an effort to get some of the money owed the couple. The plea was contingent on Deangelo paying $30,000 prior to sentencing.

“This was the way to get some justice and money,” he said.

Attorney David J. Kaltenbaugh of Altoona, who represents Deangelo, stated that he believed the restitution owed was only $42,000.

President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman asked Kaltenbaugh to file a motion for a restitution hearing, if he wants to contest the amount.

Kaltenbaugh noted that in addition to the $30,000 paid today, an additional $3,000 could be mailed from his office in the next few days.

Ammerman asked that a regular payment schedule be set up so that the court does not have to “chase him around for the rest of it.”

After speaking with Deangelo, Kaltenbaugh said he could pay another $5,000 within 30 days and then $1,000 per month.

Sayers commented that contractors tend to “rob Peter to pay Paul” and hoped that these funds weren’t coming from another job that Deangelo would not complete.

Ammerman asked the victims if they were happy with the plea, explaining that the payments will be tied to Deangelo’s probation and if he doesn’t pay up, he could be sent to state prison.

If they wanted him to reject the plea and go to trial, they would not be able to get the $30,000, he explained. He added that there are many other cases where the defendants have taken years to pay back the victims.

The victims said they were satisfied with proceeding with the plea agreement as written.

Ammerman then sentenced Deangelo to 10 years probation with the stipulation he pays $30,000 now, $3,000 within seven days, $5,000 before the end of October and effective in November, he pay $1,000 per month.

Deangelo stated that he wants to pay the debt off sooner, if possible, but didn’t want to commit to a higher amount, in case he couldn’t fulfill that obligation.

Online court documents indicate that Deangelo is on probation in Blair County for a retail theft and in Centre County for several retail thefts from Lowe’s.

CLEARFIELD- A former Clearfield man accused of 24 various counts for molesting a girl was in court to be sentenced Monday.

Willie Ray Hockenberry, 66, whose address is now listed as Philipsburg, was charged with rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, six counts of indecent assault person less than 13 years old, six counts of endangering the welfare of a child, six counts of indecent exposure, all felonies as well as two misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure in connection with incidents between 2013 and 2019.

President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman stated that the defense had requested a competency evaluation for Hockenberry, but he refused to cooperate when the evaluator spoke with him.

Hockenberry’s attorney, Ryan Dobo, also noted that Hockenberry has not yet been evaluated to determine whether or not, he is a sexually violent predator. Dobo said he thought the case had already been continued until October.

First Assistant District Attorney Leanne Nedza stated that any continuance should go against the defense and asked Dobo to explain to Hockenberry that not cooperating is “not helping him.”

The case will be rescheduled for October.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, in April of 2021, the victim’s mother told police her daughter recently said Hockenberry had sexually abused her when she was younger.

The girl reportedly said he first touched her inappropriately when she was 7 years old, regularly touched her privates with his privates when she was 8 years old with the abuse evolving into intercourse with him.

A second victim reported that he had also touched her inappropriately on several occasions.

The criminal complaint notes that in 1981 Hockenberry was charged statutory sexual assault for allegedly having sex with a 12-year-old girl.

CLEARFIELD – After deliberating about 45 minutes on Wednesday, a Clearfield County jury acquitted a Coalport man of stealing $6,000 from a business.

Michael Lee Fyock was charged with felony theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property in relation to an incident in June of 2020.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Fyock was playing a skills game at a Coalport business when the owner went outside to help a customer.

When he came back in, Fyock was in the office where the funds for the skills machine are kept in a bag in a desk drawer.

Shortly after this, Fyock left the business and a neighbor came in to report that he saw Fyock through an open door in the office, get into his desk and take money from the bag.

The owner did not contact police until August of 2020 because he reportedly wanted to give Fyock a chance to give the money back.

In her closing arguments, defense attorney Tami Fees stated that the witness’ account of that night “doesn’t make any sense” about how the door actually opens in relation to the desk and how he could see it from his window about 40 feet away.

She speculated that the witness actually had an opportunity to take the money and then used Fyock as a scapegoat because he happened to be in the business that night.

She stated that the witness looked across at the business every day and could have taken the money at any time because there was no evidence as to when the money was actually taken except the witness’ statements.

“It’s all speculation and that is not enough.”

Assistant District Attorney Warren Mikesell in his closing, countered Fees’ statements by pointing out that Fyock was in the business two or three times a day, but after this incident, he didn’t come back.

He admitted it that it was “stupid” to do business this way, with an open door to an unlocked desk drawer, but noted that the witness had just come home from work and wouldn’t have known that Fyock was in the business for hours that day.

He also stated that the witness would not know where the bag with the money from the skills machine was kept, but because he played the games so often, Fyock did.

He commended the witness for “having the decency to step up” and tell the owner about the crime.

CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man is behind bars for allegedly throwing a pair of knives at an elderly male with a young child sitting nearby.

Zaccery D. Conklin, 33, is charged by Clearfield Borough police with five felony counts of aggravated assault and four misdemeanor counts of simple assault.

He’s also charged with two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment; misdemeanor terroristic threats and possessing instrument of crime and related offenses.

The investigation began at 2:47 p.m. Sept. 6 following a 911 hang-up call from a young child at a Williams Street residence, according to the affidavit.

At the scene, police were let inside by a 76-year-old male who appeared to be in a state of panic. He said Conklin was trying to kill him by throwing knives at him.

As the officer spoke with the victim, Conklin emerged from another room and reportedly appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance.

“He was … sweating profusely, unable to stand still and appeared paranoid,” the affidavit states. Conklin grabbed the knives from the TV stand when the officer asked about their location.

Police ordered Conklin to put the knives down, which he did following a second command. He was escorted outside as another officer arrived on-scene.

He maintained custody of Conklin while the other officer went inside to obtain more information. The male victim said Conklin came home around 10 a.m. and got paranoid.

He said Conklin began covering up all the windows and closed all the interior doors. Reportedly, he stuck knives to keep some blankets over windows.

This, the victim said, occurred approximately five different times that day because he took the blankets down every time Conklin put them up.

Later an argument broke out and Conklin allegedly threw two knives at the victim from approximately 18 feet away. Both struck the wall to the right of the couch where the male was seated.

A 7-year-old child victim was on an adjacent couch and approximately five feet away from where the knives allegedly struck the wall.

One knife fell behind the couch and the other next to the boy.  Police seized the knives from the TV stand for evidentiary purposes and Conklin was housed in county jail on a probation detainer.

In a forensic interview, the child victim told investigators at the Child Advocacy Center that he got scared and doesn’t feel safe when Conklin comes around.

The victim said he knew he had to call for help “fast,” and gave a detailed account of the incident, which closely corroborated that given by the male.

Conklin waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday, sending his case to county court for further disposition.  His bail is currently set at $100,000 monetary.

CLEARFIELD – The case against a Westover man accused of sexually assaulting two girls beginning in 2017 will go to the jury Friday in Clearfield County Court.

Moses C. Norris, 77, is facing two counts of rape of child, three counts of criminal attempt-rape of child, two counts of statutory sexual assault, three counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with child, eight counts of corruption of minors, eight counts of indecent assault-person less than 13 years old and three counts of aggravated indecent assault.

The investigation began in December of 2020 following a ChildLine report and later got assigned to the crime unit at state police at Punxsutawney.

The victims were interviewed separately by investigators at the Child Advocacy Center of Clearfield County in January and March of 2021.

The first victim testified on Wednesday morning and portions of her video- and audio-recorded forensic interviews with CAC Director Mary Tatum were played in court.

She said the first incident occurred while they were on the couch, and Norris started out by rubbing her back, but his hand moved down into her private area.

After that, the assaults escalated and Norris allegedly had her touch his private area and tried to have sex with her. They also engaged in oral sex, she said.

Though the victim felt what Norris was doing was wrong, she went along with it because Norris made death threats towards her family if she told anyone.

The second victim testified Thursday morning and portions of her video- and audio-recorded forensic interviews with CAC Case Manager Sierra Clark were played in court.

She reported that Norris touched her private area multiple times in various locations, such as the living room, garage and car. She also said he kissed her on the lips, while he was touching her.

Norris took the stand in his own defense, saying he never had any sexual interactions with the victims “at least not on purpose,” and when pressed under cross-examination, called one victim a liar.

The defense also called multiple character witnesses who testified that Norris had a reputation for being a “peaceful and law-abiding citizen.”

Online court documents indicate that Norris’ bail is set at $50,000 monetary, which he posted in April of 2021.

Court will reconvene at 9 a.m. Friday with closing arguments after which Senior Judge Daniel J. Milliron of Blair County will give jurors their final instruction before deliberations.

CLEARFIELD – An Allport man was scheduled for court Wednesday on allegations that he’d assaulted his son.

Jordan M. Gooch, 36, is charged by Clearfield state police with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault and summary harassment.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the investigation began following a third-party complaint that Gooch had struck his 7-year-old son in the face while in the car Sept. 3.

Troopers confirmed the child had suffered facial injuries and responded to a Morris Township residence where Gooch was located.

He reportedly admitted to striking his son for disciplinary reasons; however, the child had bruising below his left eye, a bloody nose, fat lip and two chipped teeth.

The child told state police that his father had struck him, which was confirmed by another witness to whom Gooch related that he’d struck his son with the back of his hand.

Gooch waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday, sending his case to county court. His bail was also modified from $50,000 monetary to unsecured.

By Anthony Hennen | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A criminal justice reform that started in Pennsylvania to clear previous convictions may become the standard in federal law.

Two criminal justice reform bills, the Clean Slate Act and the Fresh Start Act, would “enable people with federal arrest and conviction records to petition to clear those records and support increased access to automatic record sealing for eligible offenses at the federal and state levels,” as described in a press release from the Clean Slate Initiative, a pro-reform group.

Pennsylvania passed a Clean Slate Act in 2018 that automated sealing criminal records. About 1.2 million Pennsylvanians have benefited from the sealing since it took effect in 2019. As The Center Square previously reported, the General Assembly has discussed expanding the law to include low-level felonies as well.

The federal law has received bipartisan support from Pennsylvania lawmakers. 

“From my time as a defense attorney and as a district judge in Pennsylvania, I saw first-hand, up-close-and-personal what a stigma a criminal record has on somebody and how that impacts the ability to reenter society once debts are paid to society,” Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pennsylvania, said during a press conference. “It’s everything – employment, education, where one wants to live. We need to pass this legislation so those individuals can have the chance to fully partake in the economy and also reduce recidivism rates.”

Reschenthaler noted that roughly 3 million Pennsylvanians have a criminal record and called it “a huge issue,” with most of them being “low-level, non-violent offenses.”

“These measures are bipartisan, common-sense solutions that will remove barriers to employment and invest in our nation’s future,” said Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania.

The Clean Slate Act would seal criminal records while the Fresh Start Act would create a federal program for states to get grants to set up an automatic process for sealing records.

The law would not apply to felony convictions.

Advocates argue sealing convictions could boost the job prospects of ex-prisoners and lower costs for states. A recent report on recidivism in Pennsylvania prisons noted that people who are rearrested has been steady for 15 years, with 75% of those who recidivate do so within 16 months. 

CLEARFIELD – Thomas D. Schnars, 56, of Erie is charged with felony dissemination of explicit sex material to minor (two counts) and misdemeanor corruption of minors (two counts).

The investigation began Jan. 4 when Clearfield state police received two child welfare reports indicating that Schnars had allegedly introduced two juveniles to pornographic videos.

The crime occurred between Dec. 18 and Dec. 26 at a Graham Township residence, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge Jerry Nevling.

The first juvenile, age 6, provided investigators with a detailed account of the videos’ content, which was corroborated by the second juvenile, age 10.

On Jan. 28, Schnars was interviewed and turned his cellular phone over to state police. Extracted data uncovered a conversation in which Schnars appears to be “coaching” the older juvenile.

Schnars waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday, sending his case to the Court of Common Pleas. He’s incarcerated at Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.

CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man is facing charges for allegedly assaulting a Lawrence Township police officer while resisting arrest.

Chris Hairston, 31, is charged with felony aggravated assault; misdemeanor simple assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest; and summary harassment.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, police were called to a disturbance at 9:23 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Lawrence Park Village Apartment Complex.

The caller reported a male, identified as “Chris,” was screaming, yelling and throwing things. The female living with him was pregnant and concerned about her safety.

On-scene officers observed an African-American male inside screaming and throwing his arms around, and when they knocked on the apartment door, Hairston kicked it open.

Police immediately detected the odor of an intoxicating beverage, and in the affidavit, noted that Hairston had glassy eyes and slurred speech.

He asked officers what they were there for, and indicated he didn’t want them beyond his doorstop. He said he was tired and aggravated.

Though he called for a female upstairs, he reportedly tried shutting the door and wouldn’t let officers inside to speak with her. The female appeared pregnant as she stood atop the stairs.

Police tried to communicate with the female but were unable to because Hairston continued to yell and make spontaneous utterances.

At officers’ request, the female came downstairs; however, Hairston refused to let her go outside and blocked the doorway with his arm.

Hairston was ordered multiple times to cease his disorderly and belligerent behaviors, and instead tried to get the female inside as he argued with police.

At this point, officers entered the residence advising Hairston he was under arrest. As they tried to gain control of him, Hairston allegedly put one officer in a headlock.

Once they got Hairston on the ground, the officer was able to free himself, but the struggle continued and they only gained control of Hairston after using force to gain control of his arms and hands.

Both officers suffered abrasions to their right knees while trying to cuff Hairston, the report said, and additional officers were summoned to the scene.

As Hairston was escorted to the police vehicle, he forcefully moved to the left and right to throw officers off-balance. Afterwards, he laughed about it, police said.

At the police vehicle, Hairston was ordered to take a seat but faced an officer and allegedly used his torso to shove him backwards. Officers had to then force Hairston into the vehicle to secure him.

Hairston waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday, sending his case to county court. His bail is currently set at $25,000 monetary.

Clearfield Borough

• Police responded to the area of South Third Street and Leavy Avenue for a reported suspicious vehicle.  According to police, the caller believed that the vehicle may have been following her.  Upon arrival, police were unable to locate the vehicle and the female was provided transportation to her residence. 
• Police responded to a motor vehicle accident along Bigler Avenue.  Police discovered that a vehicle, which was traveling in the wrong lane, had collided with a semi-truck entering the highway.  EMS arrived on-scene and transported a patient to the hospital. 

CLEARFIELD – A Ramey man is facing charges for allegedly ramming a police vehicle while attempting to flee from state troopers.

Ronald A. Hutton, 53, is charged by Clearfield state police with aggravated assault, fleeing and eluding police, criminal mischief, DUI and related offenses.

Hutton waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday, sending his case to county court. His bail is currently set at $50,000 monetary.

According to the affidavit, state police were on routine patrol in the early-morning hours Sept. 3 in Beccaria Township when a Jeep passed with multiple equipment violations.

The trooper turned around to attempt a traffic stop on Heverly Boulevard, but the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed, prompting him to activate his lights and siren.

The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit ensued and reportedly reached speeds of 80 miles per hour while fleeing onto Dillen and Lyleville roads.

When they approached Saint Lawrence Road, the trooper attempted a pursuit intervention technique as the vehicle attempted to turn down a dirt road.

At this point, the trooper was able to positively identify both male occupants, including the driver, Hutton, due to past incidents and arrests.

The vehicle continued down the dirt road until encountering a gate and the trooper followed with his lights and siren still fully activated.

Hutton allegedly put the Jeep in reverse, ramming the front-end of the trooper’s patrol unit, causing moderate damage and wedging the driver door shut.

Then, he accelerated and slammed into the support post for the gate before reversing and accelerating again to break off and drive over the gate. Hutton continued through the field and out of view.

Troopers later responded to a Jordan Township residence where the vehicle was observed and Hutton was taken into custody without further incident.

In an interview with police, Hutton said he purchased the vehicle without any exchange of paperwork. He reportedly admitted that he was aware it was illegal and that he also had warrants.

“When the trooper, lit him up,” he ran, Hutton told state police. He said when he got to the gate, he attempted to ram it but couldn’t get through and when he backed up, he hit the patrol unit.

Hutton said he didn’t realize the trooper’s vehicle was there, and he was just trying to get away because he didn’t want to go back to jail.

As state police spoke with Hutton, they detected an odor of alcohol and noticed that he also had a white substance inside of his nostrils.

Hutton was administered a breath test, which showed positive for alcohol; he also admitted to having used a line of methamphetamine earlier in the day.

It was determined Hutton was impaired and incapable of safe driving; a glass smoking device was also found in the vehicle, according to the affidavit.

DUBOIS – Two DuBois men are facing felony charges for possessing over 40 grams of methamphetamine.

Michael Kenneth Spicher, 35, and David Eugene Moore Jr., 30, were both charged by DuBois City police after a search warrant was executed on Spicher’s residence on Sept. 2.

Spicher is charged with felony counts of conspiracy, manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (four counts) and criminal use of communication facility in addition to misdemeanor counts of intentional possession of a controlled substance (four counts) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Moore is charged with one felony count of manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, four misdemeanor counts of intentional possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both waived their rights to a preliminary hearing Friday during centralized court, sending the cases on to the county court.

Bail for each of them was lowered from $50,000 to $50,000, unsecured at that time.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the search warrant was approved after a confidential informant purchased methamphetamine from Spicher.

In a bedroom closet, they reportedly found a lockbox containing a white crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine. They also found prescription medications, paraphernalia, packaging materials and digital scales.

Additional meth was found in a toolbox and a backpack had what appeared to be a drug ledger with records of sales and debts, police said.

In the kitchen, they reportedly found three packages: one with round white pills, another with a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana and the last with more of the white crystal substance.

The methamphetamine totaled 41.8 grams and the marijuana weighed approximately 44.6 grams, according to the report.

In an interview with investigators, Spicher stated he was “mainly selling for David”, explaining Moore would leave him some drugs to sell and then he paid Moore later.

Their most recent transaction was earlier that day when Spicher said he paid Moore $200 for nine grams of meth, Spicher said.

Lawrence Township

• Police received a report of a retail theft Sept. 17 at the Clearfield Walmart store. According to police, information was received regarding an unknown female who under-rang merchandise totaling $570.76. Employees tried to stop her as she left, but she got in her vehicle and fled towards Lowe’s. Ultimately police stopped the female as she was traveling on state Route 879. She reportedly admitted to the theft and it was determined she was wanted out of Bucks County. The female was placed in Clearfield County Jail for felony retail theft as well as on her active warrant.
• Police reported a drug violation occurred Sept. 17 at a Good Street residence. During the incident, a 48-year-old Clearfield man was allegedly found to be in possession of a controlled substance. Charges were filed.

CLEARFIELD – During plea and sentencing court on Monday, President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman expressed his frustration with the plea agreements offered by the district attorney’s office.

The first case he was unhappy with, was a time-served plea for Scott Allen Garvey, 51, of Falls Creek, who had been charged with aggravated assault, felony strangulation, two counts of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and terroristic threats.

The plea only included the misdemeanor terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person charges.

Ammerman read a letter from the victim saying that she wanted the aggravated assault charge dropped. He then reviewed the affidavit of probable cause, commenting that it states Garvey choked her and pointed a gun at her.

Garvey’s attorney, William A. Shaw Jr., said he thought the affidavit was “misleading” and didn’t think he had pointed a gun at her.

First District Attorney Leanne Nedza noted that the victim wasn’t happy to be at the preliminary hearing in this case, but wanted him to be held accountable for his actions.

This victim was also asking that she be allowed to have contact with him.

Ammerman eventually sentenced Garvey to six days to one year in the jail with three years concurrent probation.

According to that affidavit, on May 7 in Falls Creek, Garvey got into an argument with the victim during which he choked her on two different occasions. She also told police he pointed a shotgun at her while she was in the bathroom.

Another case involving a gun was also a problem for Ammerman.

Philip Paul Tabone, 72, of DuBois was originally charged with misdemeanor counts of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct.

He was required to plead guilty to only the disorderly conduct charge with a probation sentence.

After reviewing this affidavit, Ammerman noted that the case also involved the defendant pulling a gun and pointing it at the victim.

“Now people point a gun at someone and only get charged with disorderly conduct and get only probation?” he asked.

Ammerman told Nedza that the DA’s office needs “to take care of business,” and shouldn’t wait until the last minute to handle cases and just plead them out.

Tabone’s plea was then rejected, putting the case back on the trial list.

According to that affidavit, on Oct. 4, 2020, Tabone approached a man mowing grass on his property. The man told him he was mowing for the tenant, but Tabone yelled and swore at him to get off his property. When the victim said no, Tabone pulled a gun and pointed it at him. 

As he called 911, Tabone drove off. A witness reportedly confirmed the story.

In a third case, Ammerman rejected a plea for probation in a case involving an auto accident that broke a bicyclist’s leg. The driver then left the scene.

Brian E. Kessler, 52, of Clearfield is charged with misdemeanor counts of accidents involving death or personal injury, accidents involving damage to attended vehicle and six summaries including failure to stop and render aid and failure to notify police of accident.

Even though it was noted that the victim was happy with the plea, Ammerman, as with the other cases, didn’t think it was appropriate.

“I am just going to start rejecting these.”

According to that affidavit, on Oct. 21, a vehicle driven by Kessler struck a man on a bike near the entrance of Walmart in Lawrence Township.

Prior to the accident, the occupants of a vehicle following his car noticed the SUV swerving all over the roadway. These two witnesses told police they saw the vehicle strike the man, knocking him off the bike. The driver didn’t stop but instead continued on to the store.

They were able to give officers a complete description of the vehicle and the license plate. They reported that it was still in the lot and the driver, a man wearing a green hoodie, had gone into the store.

The officers found the empty SUV, which had scratch marks on the side of the front bumper matching the bike, in the lot. It also had possible rubber marks from the rear tire of the bike and the passenger side mirror was folded into the vehicle.

After the owner was identified by the license plate, she was contacted and able to confirm Kessler was using the SUV.  

Police entered the store but were unable to find the driver and when they returned to the lot, the vehicle was gone.

Officers next checked his residence in Clearfield Borough where they found the vehicle.

Police say on the passenger seat was a Walmart bag with a soda bottle in it and a gift card was in the cup holder.

They were unable to make contact with Kessler at that location.

While checking the video surveillance footage from the store, investigators discovered that a man matching the description given of the driver had purchased a soda and a gift card.

The footage also revealed that when he left the store, he walked across the rear part of the lot to avoid police.

Hospital records indicate that the victim had two bones broken in his left leg and had an abrasion on his right leg, according to the report.

SIGEL, Pa. (EYT) – A local man accused of inappropriately touching a young girl who was waiting for a school bus was held for court recently.

The following charges against Dale Richard Neill, 74, of Sigel, were held for court by Magisterial District Judge Gregory M. Bazylak on September 15, 2022:

• Indecent Assault Person Less Than 13 Years of Age, Felony 3 (four counts)
• Corruption Of Minors – Defendant Age 18 or Above, Felony 3
• Corruption of Minors, Misdemeanor 1
• Indecent Assault without Consent of Other, Misdemeanor 2 (four counts)
• Indecent Assault Person Less Than 16 Years of Age, Misdemeanor 2 (four counts)

The case was transferred to the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas on September 16, 2022.

Neill is being represented by Franklin-based attorney John C. Lackatos.

In 2011, Neill plead no contest to two second-degree misdemeanor counts of Indecent Assault without Consent of Other in connection with a 2010 incident in Jefferson County. He was ordered to serve up to four years probation and complete an approved sex offender treatment program along with other requirements.

He remains free on $100,000.00 unsecured bail.

Details of the case:

According to court documents, Marienville-based State Police filed criminal charges against Dale Richard Neill at Judge Bazylak’s office on Monday, July 25, 2022.

The charges stem from an investigation into an indecent assault involving Neill and a known juvenile victim that occurred sometime between September 2021 and February 2022 in Sigel, in Eldred Township, Jefferson County.

According to a criminal complaint, police spoke with a known juvenile victim’s mother who related that on February 8, 2022, her daughter told her that Dale Neill had touched her butt and made her feel uncomfortable.

Police then interviewed the juvenile victim who reported that she was at Neill’s house on February 8 waiting for the school bus, and he put his arm around her, and his hand was resting on her butt. Neill then made a comment about her “getting chunky” and asked her to weigh herself, the complaint indicates.

The victim explained she felt very uncomfortable with his actions.

On February 22, an interview was conducted with the victim by the Child Advocacy Center where she reiterated the details of the incident.

Police then interviewed the victim’s mother again. She stated her daughter had informed her that she had been at Neill’s residence approximately 12 times while waiting for the school bus, and he had given her a hug every time she had been at his residence. She stated that his hands only strayed to her butt approximately three to five times during the time frame, according to the complaint.

The victim’s mother told police that Neill had never given the victim a hug while she was present, the complaint states.

Neill was arraigned at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 3, in front of Judge Bazylak.