Elk County Court conducts second Return Day of the week on Friday
RIDGWAY - With the continuing backlog of cases caused by the COVID-19 shutdown, the 59th Judicial District, which serves Elk and Cameron County, took the unusual step of holding a second Return Day on Friday, with Elk County Assistant District Attorney Beau Grove standing in for District Attorney Tom Coppolo.
This was also a "call-of-the-list" court docket, with defendants having one last chance to accept plea deals before proceeding to jury selection in the next few weeks.
Two defendants failed to show up on time for their scheduled court appearances, leading to their bail being revoked and bench warrants issued for their immediate arrest. Bobbi Jean Fuller, 33, of Emporium failed to appear for her call-of-the-list date for her single count of theft of leased property. Harley Nash Russell, 24, of Ridgway failed to appear on his possession of drug paraphernalia charge. Both are advised by the court to turn themselves in before facing additional charges.
John Coda Olds, 32, of Milton, was denied bail modification due to the nature of his charges, and his not having a fixed address or any ties to Elk County.
Lori Beth Cheatle, 40, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 95 days to one year in prison following her plea to theft by unlawful taking or disposition. She was ordered to pay $1,840.68 in restitution to the victim and have no further contact with them. The Elk County Probation Department is working with Elk County Mental Health to arrange housing for Cheatle so she can be paroled from Elk County Prison with time served and begin her probation period.
Brandon Lee Dilley, 36, of Wilcox, plead guilty to his second and third DAI (Driving After Imbibing). DAI is PA's term for the more commonly known DUI or driving under the influence. Based on his lengthy criminal record, and the fact that Dilley has never had a driver's license, only a driving permit from his youth, he was sentenced to 146 days to two years in prison, fined $800, and ordered to pay two separate lab fee charges of $261 as well as the cost of prosecution and probation.
Devon Michael Gausman, 21, of St. Marys decided to proceed to the August 8 jury selection day on his 14 separate counts of retail theft.
Johnny Jerome Curtis, 38, of Johnsonburg pleaded guilty to selling or furnishing a 13-year-old minor alcohol and was sentenced to three months to a year in Elk County Prison, fines, fees, and costs of prosecution as well as a $1,000 fine.
Matthew J. Mercer, 33, of St. Marys, will be under the care of the Elk County Probation Department for a year following his guilty plea to possession of a controlled substance, namely crystal methamphetamine. He will also pay fines, fees, court costs, and probation charges.
Christopher Michael Pesce, 45, of Ridgway, plead guilty to disorderly conduct and will be on probation, with all assorted costs and fees for the next year.
Khalil Unique Murray, 25, of Olean, N.Y., refused a plea deal on burglary, criminal conspiracy, and criminal trespass charges and will proceed to jury selection on August 8.
David Francis Sette, 36, of St. Marys pled guilty to criminal trespass and was sentenced to one year on probation with all associated costs included.
Desiree Katheryne Vires, 28, of Ridgway, pled guilty to a first offense DAI, possession of a controlled substance, namely heroin, and driving while operating privileges suspended. She will be on probation for 18 months and pay all associate costs as well as a $1,000 fine.
Marissa Sue Deming, 23, of St. Marys, pled guilty to criminal conspiracy. She was given a reduced sentence of one year on probation following her successful completion of drug and alcohol in-patient treatment.
Benjamin Michael Goodrow, 40, of Ridgway, pled guilty to burglary, receiving stolen property, and flight to avoid apprehension, he was sentenced to, in aggregate, 33 to 105 months in a state correctional facility, as well as all associated costs fees and charges.