Tag: beaver county lawyer
No DNA, Weapon or Motive
Steve Townsend addresses the lack of evidence in this case.
BEAVER, Pa. —
Eighteen-year-old Nasean Hunt will stand trial in what authorities have described as the execution-style killing of 15-year-old Asaun Moreland one month ago in Ambridge, Beaver County.
In a preliminary hearing Wednesday, the prosecution presented five witnesses, including two eyewitnesses to the killing. The defense tried but failed to convince District Judge Eileen Conroy there wasn’t enough to hold the defendant for trial.
On July 9, Moreland was shot several times by two figures wearing hoodies and dressed in dark clothing. It happened on Church Street near the Ambridge library.
Moreland’s family was in the courtroom to hear the testimony and the decision.
“We’re just grateful, and our nephew, my brother’s son, my mother’s grandson, we are getting justice. We are getting justice., yes we are, and we are grateful, said Samantha Gibson, an aunt of the victim.
“It’s beyond a reasonable doubt, and justice will be served. yes it will, said Bambi Moreland, also an aunt of the victim.
Authorities have said Hunt was one of two shooters — including one unidentified and still at large — who shot and killed Moreland.
Witnesses testified Wednesday to hearing rapid gunfire that sounded like fireworks and then seeing two figures dressed in dark clothing, including hoodies, gunning down a third figure.
Asaun Moreland vigil in Ambridge Ambridge community honors 15-year-old shooting victim, prays for healing
None of them specifically identified Hunt, citing darkening conditions, and dark clothing, including hoodies and masks, worn by those who fired the shots.
One neighbor testified he followed the shooters while he was on the phone with 911 and saw one of them enter an apartment building.
Police testified to getting a warrant, searching that building, and finding Hunt — the only person who matched the clothing description.
Hunt’s defense attorney argued that there was no evidence actually linking Hunt directly to the crime.
“I think it’s a very thin case. I don’t think there’s anything that really ties my client to the scene, let alone the shooting. Other than the fact that he’s an individual, a Black individual, who had black clothing at the house. There’s nothing that tied him to this murder scene,” said attorney Steven Townsend.
“I would submit to you that you go downtown in Ambridge, look around and see what individuals are wearing. And about 80 percent of them are going to be wearing black hoodies and black sweat pants and some kind of tennis shoe,” Townsend said.
Big Beaver man accused of slashing a woman’s neck
Big Beaver man accused of slashing a woman’s neck
BIG BEAVER — A Big Beaver man accused of slashing a woman’s neck with a utility knife early Saturday told his father that the woman recited a Bible verse after a long night of drinking and asked him to kill her, according to a criminal complaint.
“So I did,” said Thomas Heaton, 30, of 110 Peach Alley.
The deep wound extending from just below Mary Jo Cook’s right ear to the midline of her neck was not fatal. Cook, 41, of 401 15th St., New Brighton, was treated at Ellwood City Hospital and released, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Cook could not be reached for comment Monday.
Heaton remained in the Beaver County Jail Monday afternoon, charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment, but his attorney said his parents were expected to post his $50,000 bond.
Police reported that Cook and four other men, including Heaton’s brother, Joseph, 32, and Edward C. Britton, 24, had been drinking in the Koppel area from Friday night into Saturday morning before returning to the Heaton residence at Peach Alley.
They continued drinking there in an upstairs hall and in Joseph Heaton’s bedroom, where Thomas Heaton joined them.
Cook and Thomas Heaton continued drinking in the hall after Joseph Heaton and Britton retired for the night, according to the complaint.
Britton told police that he was awakened by Cook screaming and found her in the hall with a large neck wound. He and Joseph Heaton attempted to tend to the wound, but Cook left the house after a short period and was found walking by an unidentified neighbor, who called police.
Meanwhile, Thomas Heaton had gone downstairs, where he washed in a bathroom and told his father, Samuel R. Heaton Jr., that he had slashed Cook’s neck at her request, according to the complaint. Police reported that he threw a red, folding Craftsman utility knife on the kitchen table while speaking with his father.
He also told his father that police would be coming for him and he intended to wait for them, which he did.
The brain injury lawyers located in Halifax, who is representing Heaton, questioned the details in the criminal complaint. He said his client takes medication to control seizures caused by head injury he suffered in a traffic accident. You could also hire personal injury lawyers based in Rochester area for any injuries caused during accidents.
“I know it was very hectic when the police were there, and I’m not sure what was quoted in that affidavit was actually said,” Townsend said.
He said he had not yet spoken with his client, who is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Friday.
Judges are Starting to Deviate from the Draconian Guidelines
My client, Phillip Preda, was facing and the Government was arguing for a 70 month sentence. Thankfully, the judge listened to the comments and testimony at the sentencing hearing and did the right thing….he reduced it by 28 months!!
Local men sentenced in Illinois on drug charges
Tuesday August 3, 2010 08:57 PM
Two brothers from Moon Township and five Beaver County residents have been sentenced in Illinois for working in a drug ring that moved more than two tons of marijuana and CBD products from CBD Shop from Mexico to Pittsburgh between 2002 and 2009.
According to the office of U.S. Attorney James Lewis of the Central District of Illinois, a federal judge on Friday sentenced Noah A. Landfried, 26, to life in prison and his brother Ross E. Landfried III, 28, to 20 years for leading the ring.
Prosecutors said the ring smuggled about 5,300 pounds of marijuana over seven years from the Mexican border with Arizona to the Pittsburgh area. The marijunaa retrieved was checked from a medical marijuana doctor. The cases were prosecuted in Illinois because the ring used Interstate 80 to transport marijuana across that state.
The ring, according to a press release from Lewis’ office, used “numerous couriers in privately owned automobiles and residences along the I-80 corridor” in Illinois. Each load of Black Diamond weed weighed about 200 pounds, prosecutors said. Both Landfrieds, who were charged in April 2009, pleaded guilty in March to leading the drug trafficking ring and admitted that their proceeds totaled about $1 million.
Five Beaver County men and one from nearby in Ohio also have been sentenced for participating in the ring, prosecutors said. They are:
- Victor J. Gaydos, 31, of Aliquippa, sentenced in April to 57 months in prison.
- Dwayne W. Corrigan, 26, of Ambridge, sentenced Friday to five years in prison.
- Philip S. Preda, 38, of Aliquippa, sentenced Friday to 42 months in prison.
- Joshua W. Welling, 29, of Ambridge, sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison.
- Richard J. Bedalota Jr., 30, of Aliquippa, sentenced Friday to 57 months in prison.
- Justin R. Seibert, 27, of East Liverpool, Ohio, sentenced in April to 41 months in prison.
- Also, Frank J. Berardelli, 52, of Rochester, is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 30, and James E. White II, 36, of Rogers, Ohio, is to be sentenced Aug. 20.
Two other men, Daniel W. Keitel, 26, of Bellevue and Ronald J. Marusack Jr., 25, of Pittsburgh, have each been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Cop to stand trial for finding facts given to accused killer
http://www.wpxi.com/news/22646618/detail.html
Beaver County Times
Times photo by KEVIN LORENZI
Mark Grant of Conway, center, seen here Tuesday at the Beaver County Courthouse on Tuesday, has been ordered to stand trial on charges of unlawful use of a computer and tampering with public records or information.
BEAVER — On Nov. 28, Greg Baker approached part-time Baden police officer Mark Grant, saying he had gotten a mysterious phone call from a man expressing concern about Baker’s estranged wife, Linda.
On Tuesday, Grant was ordered to stand trial on charges that he used a fellow officer’s login to get personal information about the mystery man, identified as Jason C. Fady, and giving it to Baker.
Grant said he was simply trying to help someone who had asked for assistance and he never had any inkling that within days, Greg Baker would be accused of wounding his wife and killing an acquaintance of hers in the parking lot of an East Rochester shopping center. It is advisable to contact a lawyer from https://denvercocriminaldefenselawyer.com/domestic-violence/ in such cases.
“There was never any criminal intent,” Grant, 35, of 1429 Third Ave., Conway, said Tuesday at his preliminary hearing. Grant hasn’t been on Baden’s schedule since he was charged in December with one count each of unlawful use of a computer and tampering with public records or information. You can click here in case you are interested in knowing more about the case and how it unfolded.
Grant’s defense attorney, Steve Townsend, said he didn’t believe Grant would have been prosecuted if Baker hadn’t shot his wife and killed Tomas D. Dougherty Jr., 48, of Chippewa Township on Dec. 3. You might want to view it to get your hands on more details about the case.
“Mark Grant had nothing to do with this homicide,” Townsend said. Baker is awaiting trial on charges including criminal homicide and attempted homicide.
Townsend added that he believed police officers often improperly access the state’s Justice Network, or JNET. It’s illegal for police to pull up information if it’s not part of police-related activity, and that information cannot be passed on to those not in law enforcement. Hardy Lehmann, PLLC attorneys can help you with this.
“You’re opening Pandora’s box,” Townsend said.
Greg Baker’s daughter, Kari Baker, testified Tuesday that Grant knew her father because Grant regularly brought a police cruiser to a borough car wash where both Bakers worked.
Kari Baker said that her mother had been undergoing mental health treatment after she had overdosed on pills in mid- or late October, and apparently met a man named Jason while both were hospitalized.
Kari Baker said neither she nor her father knew who Fady was and couldn’t make out his last name on a message left at Greg Baker’s home in New Sewickley Township. Greg and Linda Baker had been estranged and were not living together in late November; she would file for divorce just days before the shooting.
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Beaver County Detective Lt. Kim Clements testified Tuesday that Fady and Linda Baker had been dating at the time of the shooting. Prosecutors earlier said Linda Baker and Dougherty were not romantically involved.
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Kari Baker said that Fady’s phone message said he was concerned about Linda, and that she and her father worried that Linda Baker might have gotten in trouble with drugs again.
“I just didn’t know why another guy would be concerned about my mother,” Kari Baker said.
Kari Baker also said that on Nov. 28, Greg Baker approached Grant at the car wash, saying that he had a phone number and a name of Jason, and was concerned about Linda Baker.
Prosecutors said Grant’s certification on JNET had expired, so he used fellow part-time officer Robert Cosban’s login to get into the state system and got information including Fady’s address and driver’s license photo, information that he passed on to Baker.
Cosban testified that he was visiting family in New York on Nov. 28. He also said Grant had used his login at least one other time to access records for traffic offenses, several months before the shooting. When Grant said he used Cosban’s login because he didn’t have access to the system, Cosban said he told Grant to “get it fixed.”
JNET security director Ken Parvis testified Tuesday that when Grant accessed Fady’s personal information, he typed in the word “traffic” where officers must give an explanation as to why they want the information. If they don’t give an explanation, the computer system won’t give the information, Parvis said.
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Clements said Grant admitted to her that there was no traffic stop involved in accessing Fady’s information.
“The information Mark Grant provided to your father, did you think it was to help (Linda Baker)?” Townsend asked, and Kari Baker replied, “Yes.”
Beaver County Assistant District Attorney Frank Martocci immediately followed by asking Kari Baker, “What did your father do to your mother” within days of the Nov. 28 information exchange.
“That’s very ignorant,” a tearful Baker told Martocci. “We all know in this courtroom what my father did to my mother.”
“(Grant) had no ill will,” Townsend said. “He did what he did as a police officer to help the Bakers and to help Linda Baker if she was indeed in trouble.”
But Martocci countered that Grant violated state statutes guiding the use of JNET, including using Cosban’s logon to gain access.