COURTROOM #8 RECAP

Now, some cases from the recently concluded Criminal Term in Courtroom #8, presided by Judge William Mahon:

Tykesha Jackson, 21, of Coatesville, pled guilty to two separate assault cases - one in West Chester and one in Valley Township. In the West Chester case, Jackson and co-defendant Pierce Rivera assaulted a 17-year-old male in the area of Market and Everhart Streets on January 19 at 23:32 (CP-15-CR-0001372-2007). In the second case, Ofc. Todd Smith of the Valley Township Police responded to the report of a fight on northbound Route 82 near the eastbound on-ramp to the 30 Bypass. Upon arrival, the victim reported to Ofc. Smith that she and Jackson had gotten out of their car and that Jackson had struck her in the left eye with a closed fist (CP-15-CR-0003162-2006). Jackson had been declared a fugitive in both cases after failing to appear for preliminary hearings in District Court. She was arrested on May 31; her hearing at Judge Bruno's court in August was a fairly heated event, in stark contrast to the relative calm in Courtroom #8 (probably because the victim's family wasn't present).

In imposing the negotiated sentence, Judge Mahon asked of Jackson "What does that say to your future" now that she had two convictions for assault. As part of the agreement, Jackson was sentenced to 3 months, 11 days to 23 months at Chester County Prison and two years consecutive probation. Additionally, Jackson is slated to testify against Rivera at his upcoming trial, which is slated to be heard in front of Judge Thomas Gavin when is Criminal Term resumes on Monday (CP-15-CR-0000734-2007)...

Ryan Brennan, 24, of West Chester, pled guilty on two cases in front of Judge Mahon. On October 9, 2005 at 02:25, Ofc. Harry O'Neill responded to a report of a disturbance in the area of East Minter and South Walnut Streets. Upon arrival, he observed two white males running between two houses on the 50 block of South Walnut. Brennan was seen kicking a rear window at 21 South Walnut. Ofc. O'Neill, along with Ofcs. David Hammond and Bill Viebahn attmpted to place Brennan under arrest, however it required substantial force to subdue him. Breenan was observed with a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, slurred speech, and was highly agitated at the time of the arrest. Brennan was admitted into ARD on March 27, 2006 however, a DUI incident on May 2 resulted in his removal from the program (CP-15-CR-0002498-2007).

On that day at 03:48, Chester County 9-1-1 recieved a report of an erratic driver from WCPD Ofc. Jason O'Neill, who was off-duty at the time. The vehicle was travelling southbound on US 202 in Birmingham. Ofc. O'Neill followed the vehicle, driven by Brennan, down 202 until Lt. Bruce Abele of the Birmingham Police initiated a traffic stop, assisted by Ofc. O'Neill and two officers from Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police. Lt. Abele observed a moderate odor of alcohol from the defendant, who had admitted that he had consumed some beer that night. After failing three field sobriety tests, Brennan refused to submit to a blood draw at CCH, and was arrested for DUI. At a surpession hearing, Brennan accused Ofc. O'Neill of erratic driving, which in turn caused him to drive erratically. At that hearing, Lt. Abele noted that he did not observe Brennan driving erratically, however, he did initiate a traffic stop based on a window tint violation. Judge Mahon denied the supression motion (CP-15-CR-0000085-2006). Brennan was formally removed from ARD by Judge James MacElree II on July 24 as a result of the DUI charges.

As part of the negotiated plea deal, Brennan was sentenced to 72 hours to 6 months at CCP and fined $1,000 on the DUI charge; in the West Chester case, Brennan was sentenced to 2-and-a-half years consecutive probation on charges of Resisting Arrest and Defiant Trespassing...

Paul Harjes, 22, of Trevose, Bucks County, pled guilty of Possession of a Controlled Substance following an investigation on the West Chester University campus. On May 3 at 03:02, Ofc. Evon Burke of WCU Police responded to a report of an alcohol violation on the 4th floor of Goshen Hall. Upon arrival, Harjes was leaving the dorm room, carrying a black duffel bag which for which he consented to a search. Ofc. Burke found 2 non-labeled pill containers with several pills of what later tested positive for Percoset and Adderall, for which Harjes had no prescription for. Also found was a 20 mg oral dispenser containing Oxycodone. As part of a negotiated plea, Harjes was sentenced to 1 year probation, fined $500, and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service (CP-15-CR-0002303-2007)...

The Criminal Terms in Judge MacElree's court and Judge Ronald Nagle's court will wrap up tomorrow. Recaps from both of those terms will be posted sometime next week as records become available for review. Additionally, tomorrow is Criminal Day at 15-1-04; nine cases are listed, including a preliminary hearing on an attempted murder charge from Seven Oaks Apartments a couple of weekends ago...