Timeeka Cropper, 27 and Ishemika Speight, 33, both of Wilmington waived their hearings last week before Magisterial District Judge Dave Lang for an incident 3:42p.m., June 2, at Old Navy, 400 S. State Road, Marple, Pa.
Cropper is charged with retail theft and engaging in criminal conspiracy.
Speight is facing charges of retail theft, engaging in criminal conspiracy, possessing instruments of crime, and false identification to law enforcement authorities.
According to the affidavits, Marple Officers Joe McGettigan and Ray Stiles responded to Old Navy for a report of two shoplifters still in the store. They were taken into custody in the foyer of the store and merchandise valued at $1,014.65 was recovered.
Store security said Speight used a cutting tool to remove tags from the merchandise. They then concealed the merchandise in Walmart bags.
McGettigan located Stanley diagonal cutters behind Speight. Speight had no identification and gave police a false name. They were transported to Marple Police Station for Livescan and determined Speight was a wanted person.
Both defendants have multiple retail theft arrests.
Speight and Cropper were released and scheduled for a Sept. 5 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.
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Gerald Marie Nichols, 59, of Philadelphia waived a hearing on the charge of a felony retail theft for an incident 4:36p.m., July 27, at Old Navy, 400 S. State Road. In exchange for the waiver the charge of simple assault was withdrawn.
According to the affidavit, Marple Officer Ray Stiles responded to Old Navy for a report of shoplifters. One was wearing a blue shirt pushing a stroller and the other woman was wearing a yellow shirt. He located them in front of the AMC movie theater and stopped them. Store security said the woman in the yellow shirt, later identified as Nichols, concealed merchandise in her purse and attempted to leave the store. When security approached Nichols, she removed the merchandise from her purse and “chest bumped” the security officer using her shoulders to push the security officer out the door.
Nichols was released and is scheduled for a Sept. 5 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.
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The charge of retail theft was withdrawn against Ellisha Jackson, 22, of Philadelphia for an incident 1:17 p.m., June 21, at Walmart, 400 S. State Road, when she allegedly stole seven items of clothing valued at $54.19.
Category: Crime
DUI Charges Upheld
Robert Foster, 32, of Wilmington, DE, waived a hearing before Magisterial District Judge Dave Lang on the charge of DUI for an incident 3:48 a.m., April 21, on Marple Woods Drive, Marple, Pa.. In exchange for the waiver the charge of careless driving was withdrawn.
According to the affidavit, Marple Officer Ray Stiles responded to a report of a fight and located a car that went down an embankment. Both occupants were out of the car and uninjured.
Field sobriety tests showed signs that Foster was impaired. A breath test showed a high level of alcohol.
Foster was transported to Springfield Hospital for a blood test.
Foster was released and is scheduled for a Sept. 5 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.
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Nicole Monastra, 25, of Aldan, waived a hearing on the charges of DUI, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The charges stem from an incident 6:32p.m., April 11, at the Country Squire Diner, 2560 West Chester Pike.
According to the affidavit, Marple Officer Joe McGettigan responded to the parking lot for a report of a suspected impaired driver from an off-duty Brookhaven Police Officer who saw Monastra hit the center medial strip several times.
McGettigan spoke to Monastra and she related she was on her way to work and got lost in Broomall. She left her car running when she decided to run in the diner to get an employment application.
Monastra was unsteady on her feet and exhibited signs of impairment during field sobriety tests. She was transported to Springfield Hospital for a blood test.
A small bag of marijuana, a smoking pipe and some pills were confiscated from Monastra’s car.
Monastra was released and is scheduled for a Sept. 5 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.
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John McLaughlin, 22, of Havertown plead guilty to disorderly conduct for an incident 1:32p.m., Nov. 26, at Delaware County Community College, 901 S. Media Line Road.
In exchange for the guilty plea, the charges of criminal mischief and harassment were withdrawn.
According to the affidavit, Marple Detective Barry Williams said McLaughlin had an argument with his ex-girlfriend and shattered her front windshield, pulled off her rearview mirror, and punched and dented her dashboard. The damage was estimated at $3,546.27.
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Matthew Pope, 32, of Hatboro plead guilty to bad checks for an incident 11:25 a.m., July 22, at the Broomall Post Office, 2628 West Chester Pike. In exchange for the guilty plea the charge of possession of a controlled substance was withdrawn.
According to the affidavit, Marple Detective Mike Sharkey said Pope attempted to purchase 15 books of stamps with a check for $138. Postal employees recognized Pope as a person who passes bad checks and refused the transaction. Police were called and Pope was located outside. During a pat down search of Pope, police located a bag of marijuana.
Pope was released and credited with time served.
Victims Voice Bill On Governor’s Desk
Victims Voice Bill On Governor’s Desk — A bill to give crime victims a voice during the parole process of an inmate is now on the governor’s desk, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
House Bill 492 would change the Crime Victims’ Act to allow a victim or victim representative to appear personally before the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and provide testimony in connection with an inmate’s application for parole. The bill would make it clear that the decision of victims or their representatives to appear and be heard by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole is up to them, not the board. Additionally, the bill would allow victims or their representatives to appear by any electronic means made available by the board, such as video conference, if they elect to do so.
If signed by the governor, the law would take effect Sept. 1.
Victims Voice Bill On Governor’s Desk
DUI Charge Upheld
Joseph Mooney, 30, of Newtown Square, Pa., waived a hearing, April 25, before Magisterial District Judge Lee Hunter on the charge of DUI. In exchange for the waiver, the charges of accidents involving damage to unattended vehicle and immediate notice of accident to police were withdrawn. The charges stem from an accident 11:17p.m., Jan. 17, in front of 1 Mulberry Lane.
According to the affidavit, Newtown Officer Dave Wilding responded to an accident with injuries. Police located an unoccupied Nissan Maxima with heavy damage that was against a tree on the front yard of 4 Mulberry Lane. The investigation revealed the driver of the Nissan struck a parked Dodge pick-up truck.
Newtown Officer Joe Alonso was met in the street by Mooney’s wife who said her husband just got home and said he crashed their car and that he had been drinking.
Alonso said Mooney had an odor of alcohol, slurred speech, glassy eyes, was unsteady on his feet and failed a field sobriety test. He was transported to Riddle Memorial Hospital for a blood test.
Mooney was released and is scheduled for a May 22 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.
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Charges of criminal trespass, possessing instruments of crime, theft by unlawful taking or disposition and receiving stolen property, were withdrawn against Joseph Stonelake, 31, of Newtown. In exchange for withdrawing the charges, Stonelake plead guilty to disorderly conduct for an incident 10:23p.m., Sept. 13, at a business at 3 N. Line Road.
According to the affidavit, Newtown Sgt. Gary Sebra investigated a report of a burglary at a business on North Line Road. The caller said they saw a man in gray camouflage shorts climb into a window of the business.
Police arrived and told Stonelake that he was a suspect in the burglary. Newtown Officer Jeff Johnson patted Stonelake down and located a Winchester silver pocket knife and $71 in Stonelake’s pocket.
The victim told police that cash was stolen from an employee’s pay envelope.
Stonelake was ordered to pay fines and court costs.
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Nicholas Mofffett, 29, of Downingtown, was held in abstentia for a May 22 arraignment in Common Pleas Court on the charges of DUI, careless driving, fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving while his license was suspended, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The charges stem from an incident 3:47p.m., Dec. 13, in the 3600 block of West Chester Pike.
According to the affidavit, Newtown Officer Todd Welch was dispatched to West Chester Pike and Media Line Road for a report of a reckless driver. Moffett was the operator of a blue Toyota Highlander being followed by a witness who was in contact with the 911 center.
Police located the vehicle speeding in the 3600 block of West Chester Pike. Police followed Moffett down the Winding Way by-pass, to Clyde Lane, and into the alley behind Newtown Firehouse where he finally stopped despite lights and sirens.
Moffett admitted he panicked and ran from police because his license was suspended. Moffett also admitted there was a needle in his car. Newtown Officer Joe Vandegrift confiscated the needle from the passenger seat and four empty blue baggies of suspected heroin from the floor of the car.
Moffett was transported to Springfield Hospital for a blood test.
Moffett was released and is scheduled for a May 22 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.
Man Accused Of Not Returning Truck
Sean Conner, 34, of Newtown, waived a hearing, May 2, before Magisterial District Judge Lee Hunter on the charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle and accidents involving damage to an unattended vehicle. The charges stem from an incident Jan. 17.
According to the affidavit, Newtown Officer Chris Barksdale said the owner of Larry Robinson and Son Builders reported Conner, who was an employee of Robinson’s at the time, failed to return Robinson’s 2005 Ford 350 stake body truck.
After numerous attempts to contact Conner, Robinson reported the truck stolen.
Haverford Police notified Barksdale when they received a complaint from a township resident who said Conner came to their home in the stolen truck and was requesting money from a job that Conner worked on for Robinson.
Three hours later, Conner called Robinson and said he left the truck on Ridgefield Road and the keys were on the windshield. Robinson located the truck and discovered it had been damaged. The damage was estimated at $1,586.
Conner is scheduled for a May 29 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.
Minors Brandish Gun In North Philly
Prisoner Unemployment Benefits Would End With Bill
Prisoner Unemployment Benefits Would End With Bill — The Pennsylvania House voted unanimously last week in support of legislation to increase penalties on individuals who commit willful fraud to obtain unemployment compensation benefits, including cases of fraud by incarcerated individuals, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
House Bill 403 would impose an additional 52-week penalty for claimants who illegally apply for benefits while in prison. This penalty would apply to these same individuals in the future should they become eligible and attempt to apply for unemployment benefits again.
In addition to fraud by prisoners, House Bill 403 also addresses other types of fraud. It would increase the monetary penalty from its current range of $100 to $1,000 to $500 to $1,500 for claimants who knowingly make false statements to obtain unemployment benefits.
It also would increase the minimum number of penalty weeks from two to 10 and remove the current four-year statute of limitations. The bill also would allow for penalties to be collected through liens, civil action or any other means available by law for up to 12 years after the end of the benefit year.
House Bill 403 now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Prisoner Unemployment Benefits Would End With Bill
HB 492 Gives Victims Say In Parole
HB 492 Gives Victims Say In Parole — The State House has passed legislation to give Pennsylvania crime victims a say during the parole process of an inmate, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)
House Bill 492 would allow a victim or victim representative to appear personally before the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and provide testimony in connection with an inmate’s application for parole. The bill would make it clear that the decision for victims or their representatives to appear and be heard by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole is up to them, not the board. Additionally, if victims or their representatives so choose, they would be permitted to appear by any electronic means made available by the board, such as video conference.
House Bill 492 was inspired by a case in the Philadelphia area in which a convicted murderer was granted parole before completing his maximum sentence without input from the victim’s family. The decision was later reversed.
HB 492 Gives Victims Say In Parole
Tahmir Craig Case Black Eye For Whelan
Tahmir Craig Case Black Eye For Whelan — Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan announced in a press conference yesterday, March 20, that he was dropping the case against Tahmir Craig whom he had charged with first degree murder for the May 28 killing of Devon Williams in Chester.
It turns out that Craig had a strong alibi and that he was six-inches too short to have been the shooter who was captured on video.
Craig had spent the last 10 months in the county lockup.
Whelan appears to be expecting some pats on the back for, well, deciding against trying to send this young man — Craig is 23 — to the execution gurney.
“As prosecutors in the administration of justice, we have an absolute
duty to exhaust all resources in our efforts to pursue the truth,”
Whelan said.
The pats on the back are not going to come from here.
Craig was arrested after tips came to police that the shooter was named “Tahmir”. Police checked a police data base and Craig’s name came up. They thought his picture sorta looked like the one on the video, and witnesses picked him out of a photo array.
Bingo! Case solved!
You would think, though, that due diligence by trained professionals would involve checking alibis and determining heights before filing charges, and that a private attorney would not need to be hired to insist on these rather basic things being done before one tries to send a young man to his death and requires him to spend nearly a year in prison.
You know the real killer is still out there, right, Jack?
Tahmir Craig Case Black Eye For Whelan
Jerry Brown Paroles 377 Murderers
Jerry Brown Paroles 377 Murderers — California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has paroled 377 convicted murderers.
Look for similar things to happen in Pennsylvania if Allyson Schwartz should become our governor.
