Elderly man given parole after stroke

An elderly Baldwin Borough man convicted of stealing from local veterans’ posts received early parole Wednesday after suffering a stroke last month.

Patrick Gorman, 80, was found guilty in January of theft and misapplication of funds and was ordered to serve 11½ to 23 months in the Allegheny County Jail. Funeral homes and families made donations for Gorman’s work organizing military honor guard services through the Brentwood Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Baldwin American Legion posts, but prosecutors said Gorman improperly diverted more than $44,000 of that money over several years.

Defense attorney Casey White told Common Pleas Judge David R. Cashman on Wednesday morning that Gorman had a stroke at the jail on Sept. 22. The man, who has lost 50 pounds since entering the jail, was sitting on his pod when he pulled back from his table and began spinning in circles. His left side began to droop, he was drooling and unable to speak, Mr. White said.

Gorman was rushed to Allegheny General Hospital, where a CT scan showed not only the stroke but signs of dementia. He was released from the hospital four days later and has been staying in the jail’s infirmary since, according to a court filing.

Assistant District Attorney John Fitzgerald did not oppose the request.

Judge Cashman granted early parole but also ordered Gorman to turn over to the probation office any military uniforms, hats, rifles or patches that could be used as part of an honor guard service.