WEST SIDE CRIMINAL DAY - 9/04/07

Another small docket with no full hearings marked a typically slow Criminal Day at 15-1-01 yesterday. That's not to say that Monday wasn't a busy day at 15-1-01 despite the holiday. But, first, the Criminal Day recap...

Of the 12 cases listed on the docket today, four cases were withdrawn, three were waived to Common Pleas Court, two were continued to next week, and one was dismissed. Two cases involving Michael Scott McClinton (15-1-01, CR-0000232-07 and CR-0000233-07) were reassigned to another court due to reasons that were not made known in open court. As of today, the cases are now assigned to Malvern/East Goshen District Court; preliminary hearings will be scheduled for September 19 in front of Judge Chester Darlington on burglary and harassment charges relating to an alleged domestic dispute (15-2-05, CR-0000215-07) and on charges relating to the alleged theft of nearly $400 from the tip jar at Barnaby's (15-2-05, CR-0000216-07)...

The matter of Commonwealth vs. Wayne Preson Murrey (15-1-01, CR-0000235-07) was continued after the Commonwealth informed the court that the case pending in front of Judge Bruno would likely be consolidated with two pending drug possession cases in Judge Knapp's court. Murrey was charged by officers from the Chester County Municipal Drug Task Force in two separate cases (15-1-01, CR-0000235-07 and 15-1-04, CR-0000289-07) and also charged in a third case filed by WCPD Cpl. Scott Whiteside (15-1-04, CR-0000294-07)...

Ryan Harford, 21, of Springfield, Delaware County, saw charges of Aggravated Assault and Recklessly Endangering Another Person dismissed due to the unavailability of the alleged victim; the Commonwealth does have leave to re-file the charges, however it doesn't look likely that will happen at this point (15-1-01, CR-0000105-07)...

And finally, the saga of Brian Thomas Ems, 20, of Trevose, Bucks County, came to an end. Last week, Ems saw his bail revoked and re-set at $2,500 cash after acting in a manner that showed disrespect to the court, including arriving 2 1/2 hours late for court. On Tuesday, however, Ems was on time and had his act together, and the summary agreement compliance proceeded, with Drug Possession and Underage Drinking charges withdrawn and a guilty plea to Disorderly Conduct accepted. Funny how a day or two at CCP can wake someone up, eh? (15-1-01, CR-0000096-07)

Monday, as noted, was fairly active as Judge Bruno was the on-call District Judge. Every three days, each of the county's 19 district judges are assigned to after hours on-call duty, where arraignments following arrests are addressed when the courts are off regular business hours. Monday morning saw three defendants arraigned, one for unpaid traffic tickets and two for assault and related offenses:

• Douglas John Lambert IV, 19, of Coatesville was arraigned on charges of DUI, Simple Assault, Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and four traffic offenses following a traffic stop by Coatesville Police. He remained held at Chester County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail; his preliminary hearing in Coatesville District Court is scheduled for next Wednesday (15-1-03, CR-0000225-07).
• Michael L. Butler, Sr., 52, was arrested Sunday night after a domestic on the 200 block of West Market Street; the incident capped off a very hectic hour between 22:00 and 23:00 in which WCPD officers had, in this order, a traffic stop that led to a DUI arrest, the domestic in question, a report of a subject with a gun on West Gay Street, a suspicious activity call in East Bradford, and an EMS call on East Market Street. In any event, Butler was arraigned on charges of Simple Assault; he is free awaiting a preliminary hearing this coming Tuesday after posting 10 percent of $7,500 bail (15-1-01, CR-0000239-07).
• Paul W. Beasley, 28, of Philadelphia, was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over by West Whiteland police when it was determined that he had 5 unpaid traffic tickets. He was taken to CCP and released late Monday night after a co-worker posted the required amount to satisfy payment of the fines (15-4-03, TR-0001866-to-0001870-07).

The evening on-call session on Monday proved to be a little more interesting with five people being brought in front of Judge Bruno...

• Felipe Juarez, 27, a Mexican national living in Norristown, Montgomery County, was arrested by Tredyffrin Police and charged with DUI and releated offenses; he was committed to CCP in lieu of $7,500 bail and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for next Wednesday at Devon District Court (15-1-02, CR-0000193-07).
• Brendan Armstrong Ross, 69, was arrested by West Brandywine Township police following a domestic dispute at his township residence; he was charged with two counts each of Simple Assault, Terroristic Threats, Disorderly Conduct, and Harassment. After his bail was set at $10,000 and he was committed to CCP, Ross, to put it politely, lost his cool, ranting for the nearly hour plus he was awaiting transport from the court to the prison. Reportedly, two additional correctional officers were required to help restrain the defendant upon the constable's arrival at CCP. His hearing is scheduled for Friday at Honey Brook District Court (15-3-06, CR-0000131-07).
• Thomas Edward Grove, Jr., 19, of Coatesville, was arraigned on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance With Intent to Deliver, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphanalia, and Disorderly Conduct on Monday by Coatesville Police. Grove was committed to CCP in lieu of $2,500 bail with a preliminary hearing scheduled for next Wednesday at Coatesville District Court (15-1-03, CR-0000226-07).
• Michael Hales, 22, of Coatesville, was brought in after he was discovered to have an unpaid parking ticket from Coatesville District Court and an unpaid traffic ticket from West Goshen District Court. After attempting to call family members, Judge Bruno agreed to allow Hales to enter into a payment plan on the two tickets and avoid going to CCP.
• Wayne Lahr, 37, of Spring City, was arrested at his home on Monday and brought in front of Judge Bruno that night after failing to appear for a preliminary hearing on a bad check case last Monday in Downingtown District Court. His hearing was rescheduled for this coming Monday; Lahr was released from CCP after posting 10 percent of $2,500 bail (15-2-06, CR-0000329-07).

And that wraps up another Criminal Day at 15-1-01, with a bonus night court report thrown in. Tomorrow, at Common Pleas Court, the matter of Commonwealth vs. James Ashton Raymond (CP-15-CR-0000963-2007) is scheduled to begin. Jury selection took place this afternoon; opening arguements are expected to start tomorrow morning in front of Judge William P. Mahon. Raymond, 28, of West Chester, faces charges of Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphanalia following an investigation by WCPD Narcotics Detectives. Assistant DA Steve Jarmon will prosecute the case for the Commonwealth; Mark David Rassman is representing Raymond. The trial is expected to last one day.