WGRC Christian Radio

BELLEFONTE - In Centre County, three men who are the focus of an armed robbery spree investigation were in court today and waived their rights to a hearing on burglary, conspiracy and weapons charge.  21-year old Maksim Illarionov, 23-year old Dmitriy Litvinov and 28-year old Alexei Semionov, will all face trial on their charges after being caught in the act of planning to rob a restaurant employee at closing time, then breaking into two State College homes when their plan fell through. The Centre Daily Times reports, immediately upon their arrest, local police, working with the FBI on a task force formed in reaction to several area violent robberies, said they weren't yet linking the men to the recent crimes, but additional charges are expected as they continue to investigate. The men are each being held on $800,000 cash bail. The high amount requested personally by District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller.
John Callahan (WGRC)

LEWISBURG - A fire marshal couldn't find a definitive cause for a fire Sunday in Union County. About 50 firefighters battled the fire in Buffalo Township. Edwin Martin, his wife and five children, all of 83 Whitetail Lane, Lewisburg, were out when the fire began. State Polic Fire Marshal Trooper Norman Fedder says the damage estimate is around $115,000. He was unable to determine a cause due to the amount of destruction. Fedder did say the only item with electricity running to it in the attached garage, where the fire originated, was a stand up freezer. The family does not have insurance.
Jim Diehl/John Callahan (WGRC)

WASHINGTONVILLE - A combination shed, workshop and pig pen that burned down in less than an hour Saturday night in Montour County is ruled accidental.  The blaze at the property of Ralph Snook, along Continental Boulevard in Derry Township, was reported just before ten p.m. The building was fully engulfed in fire when the first units arrived. Three pigs died in the fire. A tractor in the shed was also destroyed. State Police Fire Marshal Trooper Norman Fedder says the fire started near a battery charger. He estimates the damage at $35,000. Snook does not have insurance on the building or any of its contents.
Jim Diehl/John Callahan (WGRC)   

SHENANDOAH - In Schuylkill County, Shenandoah Police today arrested a man in connection with a February fight at the M&T Bar on South Main Street and filed identical charges against two other men. The fight landed Miriam Malave of Shenandoah in Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $25,000 straight cash bail. Ethnic intimidation charges are being considered against the woman by the district attorney's office. Malave's stepson, 18-year old Michael Berdecia of Gordon, was arraigned on two felony counts of aggravated assault and several related charges today. He's locked up unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail. Police are also looking for Danny and Richard Malave, Miriam Malave's sons who were also involved in the fracas at the bar. Anyone who might know where they are is asked to call Shenandoah Police.
John Callahan (WGRC)

LOCK HAVEN - A former Lock Haven University student will remain locked up in Clinton County until his sentencing. 24-year old Domenique Wilson of Philadelphia, will appear as scheduled for sentencing on multiple felony counts of rape in the February 2009 assault of three Lock Haven University students, despite facing prosecution for similar offenses in the Philadelphia area. Wilson was convicted of 37 criminal counts a week ago. Clinton County Judge Craig Miller scheduled sentencing for 1:30 p.m. June 7th. There was some question whether the prosecution in Philadelphia might delay Wilson's local court date. Yesterday, District Attorney Michael Salisbury told The Express, criminal actions elsewhere will have no impact on the local court proceedings and Wilson will remain in the Clinton County Correctional Facility until his sentencing.
John Callahan (WGRC)   

WILLIAMSPORT - State Representative Rick Mirabito, along with House Commerce Committee Chairman Peter Daley, will host a local public hearing on economic development and job creation on tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Mary Lindsay Welch Honors Hall at Lycoming College in Williamsport. This is the second in a series of public hearings the House Commerce Committee is holding across the state to outline initiatives on creating jobs and improving local economies.
(WGRC)

PORT TREVORTON - A 23-year-old man was hit while riding bicycle in Snyder County. That happened Monday morning around 7:30 a.m. along Routes 11 and 15 in Port Trevorton. Police say 65-year-old Natalie Ferry was pulling from a driveway onto Routes 11 and 15 when she hit a bicycle operated by Christie Martin. Martin was thrown from his bicycle and then taken to Geisinger Medical Center for what police called moderate injuries.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

LEWISTOWN - A mother charged in connection with an alleged assault on her infant daughter pleaded not guilty on Tuesday during a formal arraignment in the Mifflin County Court of Common Pleas and then requested a jury trial. 27-year-old Stephanie Rush, of Logan Street, Lewistown, along with 24-year-old Michael Orth Jr., of Montgomery Avenue, Lewistown, both face numerous charges after a police investigation into the head injury suffered by Rush's daughter on April 20, 2009. Lewistown Hospital staff contacted police when the 8-month-old was brought to the hospital with a depressed skull fracture and other internal head injuries along with 21 bruises on the child's body. Rush remains free on bail, while Orth remains jailed at the Mifflin County Prison on $50,000 bail.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)
 
SUNBURY - A Sunbury woman facing up to 17½ years in prison for trying to hire an undercover state trooper to kill her estranged boyfriend says the sentence is too harsh. The Daily Item reports, 30-year-old Christeen Smith, filed a post-sentence motion in Northumberland County Court to reduce the two-year to 17½-year prison term she received seven weeks ago. President Judge Robert Sacavage on Tuesday, denied her bid for a reduced sentence or to withdraw the plea. Smith pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in exchange for charges of criminal solicitation of homicide and terroristic threats being dropped. She was arrested in April 2008, when she tried to hire an undercover state trooper to kill Donald Ellis of rural Sunbury.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BELLEFONTE - The state will not pursue criminal charges against Lance Marshall, the former Centre County assistant prosecutor who resigned in December 2008 amid allegations of misconduct. After a thorough investigation of the allegations surrounding Lance Marshall the State Attorney General's office determined there was not enough evidence to file criminal charges. Officials with the Attorney General's office says Marshall's case is now closed. Marshall resigned from the county District Attorney's Office in December 2008, after a victim of domestic violence said that he had sent her hundreds of sexually explicit text messages. Marshall had been assigned to prosecute the woman's boyfriend on domestic violence charges.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

PORT CARBON - It took a car crashing into a day care center, but now PennDOT has lowered the speed limit on a stretch of Route 209 in Schuylkill County. The crash happened in late November at Little Sunshines Day Care Center in Port Carbon. A car crashed through the wall and ended up in the room where children usually nap. They were in another room and were not hurt. One worker was injured. Authorities said the driver was drunk. After the crash Port Carbon borough officials asked PennDOT for help. The speed limit on Route 209 has been reduced from 45 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour. There are also new yellow reflecting signs urging drivers to be cautious. Port Carbon police officers have also increased patrols in the area.
(WNEP)

BLOOMSBURG - A Berwick-area man accused of deserting his Army unit in Georgia nearly 10 years ago went before a local judge Tuesday after he was picked up as a military fugitive during a domestic disturbance.  The Press Enterprise reports, 43-year-old Charles Findish, agreed to go back to Fort Stewart, Georgia. Findish is likely to face time in a base prison before being dishonorably discharged.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

MIDDLEBURG - An Idaho man has been charged with writing bad checks exceeding $200,000 for cattle he received from a Snyder County farm. The Daily Item reports, 35-year-old Tony Martins, of Filer, Idaho, is accused of writing the checks to Creek Bottom Farms, near Middleburg. The checks were not honored by his Idaho-based bank because of insufficient funds in Martins' account. A preliminary hearing for Martins on felony charges is scheduled for March 29th in Middleburg.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

WILLIAMSPORT - On Tuesday State Representative Rick Mirabito announced that he is running for re-election for the office of State Representative for the 83rd District. He will be on the ballot in the primary on the Democratic ticket. Mirabito says there is continued work to be done to bring jobs and economic development to the 83rd District and reform to Harrisburg.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

BELLEFONTE - Centre County State Representative Scott Conklin has announce that he's running for Lieutenant Governor in the May Primary. Conklin officially announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor Tuesday, and says he plans to take his reform message state-wide. Conklin says he was urged to run for Lieutenant Governor by many of his constituents who saw his forum on the need for a constitutional convention as citizens remain frustrated with their state government. Conklin plans to hit the campaign trail later this week.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has announced an additional hearing in the 570 code to receive public input on proposals designed to ensure adequate numbering resources in the 570 area code. The 570 area code is projected to exhaust its telephone numbers in the third quarter of 2011. New area codes are needed when existing area codes exhaust their supply of codes. The hearing will be held at the Lock Haven City Council Chambers Lock Haven City Hall, 20 East Church Street at six p.m. March 30th. The PUC has held three hearings in the 570 area code on the topic. The Lock Haven hearing is in addition to one scheduled for Thursday in Scranton.
Jim Diehl (WGRC)