TRIAL UPDATES

The trial of Mark Ethan McCall is under way, with jury selection in progress as I type this in front of Judge Phyllis Streitel. As expected, some guilty pleas were scheduled to be heard in front of Judge Sarcione, though it's not quite known the disposition of those cases.

Meanwhile, the matter of Charlestae Taggart is set to commence this afternoon in front of Judge Howard F. Riley, Jr. A brief pre-trial motion was heard this morning where Judge Riley excluded certain "prior bad acts" leading to the alleged kidnapping and assault of the victim however, certain incidents were permitted to be addressed within set parameters established by the judge. Jury selection will begin this afternoon with opening arguements likely to take place as early as tomorrow morning.

A few cases were addressed in front of Judge Riley this morning:

Victor Morales-Gil, 20, of West Chester, pled guilty to one count of DUI (1st offense/3rd tier) after a traffic stop on December 7, 2006 by Cpl. Josh Lee. On that date, at around 23:20, Cpl. Lee pulled Morales-Gil over on the 100 block of West Market Street after discovering the registration on the defendant's vehicle was suspended. Upon approaching the vehicle, Cpl. Lee noted a strong odor of marijuana eminating from the car and that the defendant has a slow response and bloodshot eyes. A lab report confirmed a positive result for marijuana in the defendant's bloodstream, rendering him under the influence of same. Morales-Gil was originally accepted into ARD, but later refused under unknown circumstances. Morales-Gil was sentenced to 72 hours to 6 months at CCP (with the committment deferred to Sunday morning), fined $1,000, and will suffer at 12 month license suspension (CP-15-CR-0002402-2007).

Derek Frank DeAngelis, 26, of West Chester, pled guilty to two cases in front of Judge Riley. The first matter, originally listed in front of Judge James MacElree II, involved a road rage incident in Upper Uwchlan. On November 26, 2006 at around 23:10, Upper Uwchlan police pulled the defendant's vehicle over on Pottstown Pike after recieving reports that DeAngelis was involved in a road rage incident. After a series of field sobriety tests, DeAngelis was taken to Brandywine Hospital where a subsequent lab test came back with a BAC of .17 (CP-15-CR-0000429-2007).

The second matter involved a disturbance on the 400 block of Granite Alley. On March 2 at around 08:46, Ofc. Brendon McGeehan was dispatched to the report of a disturbance at that location. DeAngelis was told twice by his girlfriend's father to leave the premesis, in which he refused to do so. When Ofc. McGeehan attempted to place DeAngelis under arrest, the defendant ran from the officer, pushing him as he fled. Ofc. Dave Stuart eventually assisted in the apprehension and pepper-sprayed DeAngelis before placing him in custday (CP-15-CR-0001363-2007).

In the Upper Uwchlan case, DeAngelis pled guilty to DUI-2nd offense/3rd tier and was sentenced to 6-to-23 months in CCP, fined $1,500, ordered to pay a $70 Lima Lab fee, and suffer an 18 month license suspension. In the West Chester case, DeAngelis pled guilty to one count of Resisting Arrest and was sentenced to one year probation, consecutive to the parole terms on the Upper Uwchlan case (the earliest DeAngelis would be eligible for parole is September 2).

More cases will follow as the week goes on as I have personal committments to take care of this afternoon. More cases plus a recap of Judge Bruno's Criminal Day will follow tomorrow as time permits...