A total of 16 cases with only one hearing and a bail revocation marked today's Criminal Day at 15-1-04, which was presided over by Judge Grover Koon of Valley District Court (15-1-05). The remaining cases saw four cases withdrawn in lieu of guilty pleas to lesser charges, five cases continued to later dates, and five cases waived to Common Pleas Court. One of the cases waived for court involved Bryan Willis Spokas, 20, of West Chester, who had his second Distict Court appearance in as many weeks; he had waived drug charges last week in Downingtown District Court (15-2-06, CR-0000163-07). In today's appearance in front of Judge Koon, Spokas waived charges of Possession With Intent to Deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphanalia, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. (15-1-04, CR-0000155-07).
Most of these cases were cleared within the first hour, which is pretty unusual for a typical East Side Criminal Day. The only judge that I'm aware of who could come close to Judge Koon's efficiency is Judge Arnold in Downingtown. Anyway, of the remaining two cases...
The lone preliminary hearing involved the Commonwealth vs. Maureen P. Griffis, 22, of Philadelphia. Griffis faced two counts of Aggravated Assault (one count filed under "reckless indifference to human life" and on count under "causing bodily injury with a deadly weapon"), one count each of Simple Assault, Possession of an Instrument of Crime, and Terroristic Threats.
At the hearing, the victim testified that at around 17:41 on May 9, the defendant knocked on the door of the alleged victim's friend's apartment on the 500 block of South High Street. He had been at his friend's apartment for about 20 minutes when he heard a knock on the door. When they answered the door, Griffis was allegedly waving a butcher knife in her right hand and yelled at the victim's friend that if he ever came down to her apartment again, she would "slit his f***ing neck." During the arguement, Griffis allegedly had her right arm in a motion going towards the victim's friend's face. The victim and his friend were arguing with Griffis and a female acquaintance for about 15 to 20 seconds before the attack. When the victim attempted to extricate the knife from the defendant, he was cut in the right hand, suffering tendon, artery, and ligament damage to two fingers. After the incident, Griffis' friend allegedly said, "I'm sorry, she's drunk."
During cross-examination, the victim, 19, admitted that he had a few sips of a beer, causing defense counsel David Paul Clark to request that the victim be read his rights, as Clark contended that the victim had just confessed to a criminal offense. The Commonwealth argued that it was a summary offense as opposed to a misdemeanor or felony and the judge moved the hearing along. The victim has also testified that he and his friend were in Griffis' apartment early in the day; Clark attempted to prove that they didn't have permission to be in there, but his arguements were rendered irrelevant for the purposes of the preliminary hearing. Clark also attempted to argue that Griffis' friend was not with the defendant at the time of the incident, though the victim contended that Clark's assertions were false.
After a nearly 40 minute hearing and some spirited and often heated arguements from both sides - probably one of the more intense preliminary hearings to occur in the West Chester area district courts in a while - Judge Koon ordered Griffis held for trial on all counts. She remains free on $10,000 (15-1-04, CR-0000152-07).
That would've marked the end of Criminal Day, however, shortly after 11:00, a 22-year-old Philadelphia man who was scheduled for a hearing and showed up two hours late ended up getting a not so subtle reminder of what happens when you fail to appear for court.
Donald Williams was scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 08:30 this morning on charges of Possession of a Small Amount of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphanalia and had been free on 10 percent of $2,500 bail. Williams, however failed to arrive until 10:35, which was right in the middle of the Griffis hearing and when all other cases had been adjudicated. After the hearing concluded, Judge Koon was advised that Williams had arrived; he then requested WCPD to respond to the court to place the defendant under arrest on a bench warrant that has been issued due to Williams' failure to appear for his hearing.
P/O Christopher Craig arrived at 15-1-04 to place the absconder under arrest; P/O Brendan McGeehan, accompanied by Lt. William Morris, then took the defendant into custody and transported his to the police station. Willams appeared visibly upset and was observed crying as he was being placed in the patrol car. P/O McGeehan and Lt. Morris ended up returning to the court a couple minutes later to appear in front of Judge Koon.
During his bail revocation hearing, Williams had admitted that he had arrived late to court and was was unaware that he had to sign in with the desk upon arrival and go directly into the courtroom. He had also noted to the judge that his family's finances weren't exactly in good shape. Judge Koon, however, wasn't buying any of it...
He had told Williams that the $2,500 bail set during the earlier phases of the case was rather lenient, considering he resided in Philadelphia. He also informed Williams that he had some good news and some bad news...
The bad news was that William's $2,500 bail had been revoked and re-set at 10 percent of $5,000. Williams appeared to again be on the verge of tears when told of the new bail...
The good news, Judge Koon noted, that with the help of the warden at Chester County Prison, the police, and the constables, Williams would at least be present for his next hearing, scheduled for next Friday.
Speaking of next Friday, Judge Nancy Gill from Parkesburg District Court is scheduled to preside over Criminal Day. The following Friday (July 6), no cases are scheduled to be heard, meaning that Judge Knapp will return to the Criminal Day bench on July 13.
This weekend, a recap of Goshen District Court's (15-2-03) Criminal Day and some interesting tidbits from Common Pleas Court will be posted...
No comments:
Post a Comment