Wednesday, August 1, 2007

WEST SIDE CRIMINAL DAY - 7/31/07

For the second week in a row, Judge Rita Arnold of Downingtown District Court presided over 15-1-01's Criminal Day. This week's list, however, was significantly shorter than last week's, as only 8 cases were scheduled (three others were continued prior to court).

The day's lone hearing was the matter of Commonwealth vs. Earl Taylor Deveaux. Deveaux is already facing charges of attempted murder and a separate drug possession charge that's presently before Judge Sarcione in Common Pleas Court (more on that shortly)...

In this case, Deveaux, 21, of Coatesville, was charges with Institutional Vandalism, Criminal Mischief, Disorderly Conduct, and Public Drunkeness after an incident on the 400 block of Hannum Avenue. On July 9 at around 02:50, Ofc. A.J. McCarthy was on patrol, working an overtime detail as the rest of Squad 3 was tied up on the homicide on South Adams Street. Deveaux allegedly was reported to be acting disorderly in the area of the Lukoil gas station; the defendant was reportedly upset over the murder of Christian Oliveras less than three hours earlier. When Ofc. McCarthy made contact with Deveaux, the defendant allegedly got confronational with police, screaming profanities and running in and out of traffic. Once Deveaux was placed under arrest, he allegedly kicked out the window frame of the rear door of the 1-18 patrol car while it was stopped at West Washington and North New Streets. While the window wasn't damaged, the top part of the window frame needed to be repaired at a preliminary cost of $800.00.

Deveaux was held for trial on all counts in this particular case (15-1-01, CR-0000197-07). However, he did score a legal victory on the unrelated drug possession case, in which Judge Sarcione ordered certain items of evidence suppressed (CP-15-CR-0000248-2007); the Commonwealth, as of this morning, has yet to decide on filing an appeal. Considering the steep charges he's facing in the attmpted murder case, the drug possession case - and for that matter, the criminal mischief case - are the least of his problems...

Meanwhile, a regular to the county's judicial system, Benjamin Laron Boggs, 34, of West Chester was scheduled for a preliminary hearing yesterday on charges of Possession of Drug Paraphanalia, Public Drunkeness, and Disorderly Conduct at 10:30; by 10:45, when his case was called, Judge Arnold ordered a bench warrant issued for his arrest (15-1-01, CR-0000184-07). This was a far cry from Friday, when Boggs, who already has had nine criminal cases filed in the Common Pleas Court over the past 12 years, when Judge Knapp allowed Boggs to remain free on bail despite showing up two hours late for his preliminary hearing on Harassment, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Resisting Arrest, and Drug Paraphanalia charges (15-1-04, CR-0000197-07).

A mid-week Common Pleas Court recap will be posted later today...

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