It’s Reload time again folks!
This week the News Team brough you stories from court and the City of DuBois. We also brought you coverage of the Clearfield County Fair Queen at the state competition and more.
To recap these stories keep reading the GantDaily Weekly Reload.
Frenchville Man Accused of Raping Girl, Fleeing State Waives Hearing
CLEARFIELD – A Frenchville man accused of raping a girl then fleeing the state waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
Sherman Graham is charged with three counts of rape of a child; two counts of aggravated indecent assault; two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse; three counts of statutory sexual assault; indecent assault; three counts of criminal attempt to commit rape; four counts of theft by unlawful taking; receiving stolen property; three counts of flight to avoid apprehension; burglary and two counts of criminal mischief.
According to court records on July 28, 2008 a 4-year-old girl told her mother how Graham had penetrated her. She later told police that Graham had vaginally and anally penetrated her. She also reported that Graham told her not to tell anyone or he would hurt her.
For that story click here.
Man Gets State Prison Sentence for Sex Crimes
CLEARFIELD – A 70-plus-year-old man who pleaded guilty to molesting two girls was sentenced to state prison on Tuesday.
William Stewart of Stump Creek pleaded guilty to six counts of indecent assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of children and six counts of corruption of minors.
Stewart was sentenced to nine months to 5 years in state prison on each count of indecent assault, with each count to run concurrent to each other. He is to refrain from the use or possession of alcoholic beverages, must complete the Project Point of Light program, submit to DNA testing, is to have no contact with the victims nor is he to have any unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18.
Click here for that story.
Hyde Man Waives Hearing in Redwood Inn Burglary Case
CLEARFIELD – A Hyde man accused of stealing money from the Redwood Inn in Lecontes Mills waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
David McGovern is charged with burglary, theft by unlawful taking and criminal mischief.
According to court records the incident burglary occurred on Dec. 31, 2008 around 1:30 a.m. when someone entered the bar through two rear doors at the Redwood through force. Once inside the person removed cash from a cash drawer and a burgundy colored cash bag that was located in the freezer. The person then entered the bar area and removed cash from 10 white envelopes located in a drawer.
The total amount of cash stolen was $1,046. Damage was estimated at around $100.
For that story click here.
Price Sentenced in Wal-Mart Bomb Scare Case
CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man accused of making a bomb threat to the Wal-Mart Supercenter was sentenced on Tuesday.
Ryan Price pleaded guilty to threat to use weapons, terroristic threats, criminal mischief, criminal solicitation to commit retail theft and criminal conspiracy to commit retail theft.
On threats to use weapons Price was sentenced to two years probation and four months in Clearfield County Jail. He was ordered to submit to DNA testing and is not to enter onto the property of Wal-Mart Supercenter in Lawrence Township. On the charges of terroristic threats and criminal mischief he was sentenced to two years probation, with each sentence to run concurrent to the above sentence.
According to court records a person called the Wal-Mart Super Center just before 7 p.m. on Sept. 8 and said there was a bomb on the roof. Wal-Mart employees had already begun evacuating the building, when the Lawrence Township Police Department arrived on the scene.
Click here for that story.
Bartender Arrested in DuBois
DUBOIS – The DuBois City Police Department announced the arrest of a woman accused of selling beer to someone under 21.
According to police they received a report of suspicious activity on Monday in front of Julio’s Tavern. Police noticed a woman digging through a bag that was hidden in a bush then going into the tavern.
Upon arrival police talked with the woman who stated that her backpack was in the bushes. She told police that she was 21-years-old. Police later learned she was 19.
For that story click here.
Man Sentenced to State Prison for Drunk Driving Death
CLEARFIELD – A man accused of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence was sentenced to state prison on Tuesday.
Duane E. Walk Jr. pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle while DUI and related charges. On the homicide by vehicle while DUI charge he was sentenced to four years and 90 days to 10 years in state prison. He is to refrain from the use or possession of alcoholic beverages, attend DUI school, must attend a mandatory drug and alcohol assessment, submit to DNA testing and must forfeit his driver’s license.
On the charge of driving under suspended license he was sentenced to 90 days in state prison, that term to run consecutive to the above term.
He must also pay fines and costs.
Click here for that story.
Carr Named Alternate Pennsylvania State Fair Queen
HERSHEY – The Clearfield County Fair Board of Directors and Fair Queen Committee Chairs Bob Swales & Sue Swales-Vitullo are ecstatic to announce that Miss Leah Carr, 2008 Clearfield County Fair Queen, was crowned as the Alternate Pennsylvania State Fair Queen.
Miss Nicole Clemson of Luzerene County Fair was crowned as the Pennsylvania State Fair Queen.
The announcement came at the 197th Pennsylvania State Fair Convention held in Hershey between Jan. 21 and 24.
For that story click here.
DuBois City Council Hears Update on Water Meters
DUBOIS – The installation of the wireless water meters in the City of DuBois is getting closer. At DuBois City Council’s meeting the council heard from Paul Cunningham of Johnson Controls that they have finished installing all the meters they were charged with installing.
Cunningham admitted that around 90 homes in the area might not have their installations complete. The test signal shows around 99.7 percent on the better end of receiving data from the collective meters, but were contracted for only 98 percent.
The 90 homes in question fall into two categories: homes where people aren’t available either for one reason or another, and houses where the homeowners had to install the meters themselves. The latter being any over 2 inch.
Click here for that story.