A whopping 7 cases - 3 of which went to full hearings - highlighted a short Criminal Day at 15-1-04 today, so much so that the session was complete by 11:00. The highlights:
Spencer Tracy Steele, 45, of West Chester, saw charges of Terroristic Threats, Simple Assault, and Harassment dismissed when the victim failed to appear for court despite multiple attempts by police to make contact with the alleged victim. (15-1-04, CR-0000161-07)
Jeremy Boyd, 21, of Philadelphia, saw charges of Criminal Tresspass, Theft, Recieving Stolen Property, Burglary, and Conspiracy to Commit Burglary withdrawn in lieu of a guilty plea to a summary charge of Disorderly Conduct. To say that this was a huge break for this young man is an understatement (15-1-04; CR-0000051-07; NT-0001075-07). His co-defendant in the case, Jason Fraser, faces trial in Common Pleas Court on Burglary and related charges (CP-15-CR-0001807-2007).
Two brothers - Leonardo Mendoza, 20, (15-1-04; CR-0000164-07) and Juan Gilberto Mendoza, 31 (15-1-04; CR-0000165-07) - had preliminary hearings on robbery and assault charges following an April incident at one of the borough's notorious problem clubs...
The victim alleged that, on the night of April 28 at around 23:00, he was leaving the Star Social Club on the 200 block of East Market Street when he was approached by 3 individuals. The one defendant, Juan Mendoza, allegedly struck him underneath the left eye, which the co-defendant, Leonardo Mendoza, struck him underneath the right eye and also allegedly pulled out a pen knife. The victim also testified that one of the defendants had stolen his cell phone. Under cross examination, the victim admitted that he had consumed approximately 5-to-6 beers over a 2-to-3 hour period. Based on the alleged victim's testimony, 4 counts of Robbery 1 count of Theft by Unlawful Taking and the related conspiracy charges against both defendants were dismissed. Both defendants now face 3 counts of Simple Assault, 1 count of Possession of an Instrument of Crime, 1 count of Terroristic Threats, and related Conspiracy charges on those counts. Both defendants remain free on $2,500 bail.
In the day's other hearing, Mark Anthony Comfort, 39, of West Chester, faced charges of Defiant Tresspass and Possession of Drug Paraphanalia. On the evening of May 1, P/O A.J. McCarthy was on routine patrol in the area of Barnard and Matlack Streets when he observed the defendant in the parking lot of the Apartments for Modern Living, where he had been banned per a letter written in 1992. During that time, the defendant allegedly leaned into the window of a green minivan that was parked in the lot.
P/O McCarthy then made contact with another subject, which the defendant took exception to. Comfort then left the area, walking eastbound on Barnard Street and was stopped a short time later at the corner of Barnard and Adams. After confirming that the defendant was on the banned list from the apartment complex, he was placed under arrest. A search incident to arrest discovered two clear 1-inch by 1-inch Ziploc bags containing an unknown white substance which was field tested with a presumptive positive result for cocaine.
Comfort was held for trial in Common Pleas Court on both counts and was returned to Chester County Prison, where he is being held on a detainer relating to a 2006 guilty plea to a drug possession case, also based on a complaint filed by P/O McCarthy (CP-15-CR-0001585-2005) from a February 2005 incident. Comfort was sentenced to 2-to-12 months in CCP and placed on one year's probation. A warrant was issued for Comfort's arrest last month, and the warrant was served a few days later.
Elsewhere, a DUI case was waived in lieu of an ARD application and an assault case was continued to next month. Thus concluded a relatively short session at 15-1-04, which took under two hours to complete.
No comments:
Post a Comment