The trial of Charlestae Taggart ended before it really began. Yesterday, Taggart, 29, of Coatesville, pled guilty to one count of Kidnapping to Inflict Injury or Terror and one count of Simple Assault. He was sentenced to 6-to-12 years in state prison and 1 year probation consecutive to the state sentence (CP-15-CR-0002372-2006). Taggart was very non-chalant about his sentencing, even going so far as to say "It's all good" as Judge Riley was reviewing his guilty plea. To top it all off, Taggart blew a kiss to the ADA as he was being led out of court in handcuffs. Nice little sendoff before the mandatory vacation to beautful downtown Camp Hill...
Meanwhile, the matter of the Commonwealth vs. Thomas Edwin Phelan (CP-15-CR-0004430-2006) is underway in front of Judge Riley. After lengthy pre-trial arguements, jury selection began shortly after 14:30. Assistant DA Elizabeth Bonnano Pitts is prosecuting on behalf of the Commonwealth, while Phelan, 48, of Ephrata, Lancaster County, is acting as his own attorney (with Assistant Public Defender James McMullen assisting as "stand-by" counsel). Phelan faces nearly 225 counts, including numerous counts of Involuntary Deviant Sexual Intercourse, Statutory Sexual Assault, Indecent Assault, Contact with a Minor-Sexual Offenses, Corruption of the Morals of a Minor, and Endangering the Welfare of Children.
McMullen had been representing Phelan on behalf of the Public Defender's office, however Phelan, for reasons unknown, decided to proceed pro se after claiming that McMullen wasn't proceeding they way that Phelan wanted to in the matter. Suffice to say that made for some interesting pre-trial arguements between the defendant and Pitts.
Opening arguements are expected to begin tomorrow morning.
The West Side Criminal Day recap will be posted tonight, once I catch up on some sleep...
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