The jury is supposed to begin deliberating in the case of Commonwealth vs. Oscar Lugo (CP-15-CR-2037-2007, CP-15-CR-0003522-2007, CP-15-CR-0003873-2004) in connection with the "340" drug cartel. The group was known as "340" after the apartment complex at 340 West Washington Street in the borough's West Side, even though most of the alleged drug dealing was based in the southern part of Chester County. Closing arguements were taking place this morning, with the jury scheduled to be charged shortly, if they haven't been already...
Sakinah Floyd, the alleged HIV-infected prostitute who recently made headlines in the Daily Local News by alleging mistreatment by Cheyney University Police and had essentially "fired" her Public Defender, appeared in front of Judge Howard F. Riley, Jr. earlier this morning and requested that the Public Defender's office continue to represent her. This was despite the fact that she all but threw the P.D.'s office under the bus in recent interviews. The judge did grant her request and reinstated the P.D.'s office as her legal counsel. Floyd, 34, of Upper Darby, stands accused of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Prostitution, and related offenses after allegedly performing sex acts without wearing protection with several males at a Cheyney dorm. Her new trial date is scheduled for August 27 in front of Judge Riley (15-2-03, CR-0000080-07; CP-15-CR-0000949-2007)...
Charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance against Earl Taylor Deveaux were nolle prossed (withdrawn) by the Commonwealth after a ruling in a pre-trial motion supressed most of the evidence seized during a pedestrian stop relating to this particular case. After consulting with senior prosecutors, Assistant DA Thomas Ost-Prisco informed Judge Sarcione that the Commonwealth would not appeal his ruling on the defense motion to supress alleged drugs found in his possession. Deveaux, of course, has bigger things to worry about, namely the Attempted Murder charges, but that horse has been beaten enough times that it's almost redundant to keep bringing it up. Moving on...
Jesus Cano, the Chicago resident who failed to appear for his hearing last week in front of Judge Rita Arnold (who was filling in for Judge Bruno during Criminal Day the past two weeks), actually has a pretty good reason for not showing up. According to a source in the DA's office, Cano is being held on a probation violation for unrelated charges in Chicago, though those records are not readily available on-line (unlike Pennsylvania, Illinois does not appear to have a public online database for criminal court files or docket sheets). His Recieving Stolen Property case in front of Judge Bruno's court and the Assault charges from Judge Knapp's court are still in various stages of the court system...
And finally, the matter of Commonwealth vs. Thomas Barrett will come to a close, nearly two months after his conviction by a jury on Possession of a Firearm Without a License, DUI, and Possession of a Controlled Substance (CP-15-CR-0002559-2006). This was the first trial covered in-depth on this blog back in early June. His sentencing will happen in front of Judge Riley at 13:30 today.
The rest of the cases of interest and more will be posted later today or tonight, time (and energy) permitting...
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