A judge flatly rejected Jerry Sandusky’s latest request to have his 30- to 60-year child molestation sentence reduced during a brief hearing Tuesday.

Judge Maureen Skerda said she purposely fashioned the prison term to have an impact on the former Penn State assistant football coach and noted Sandusky continues to maintain his innocence.

Sandusky, 76, participated by phone from the State Correctional Institution-Laurel Highlands but said very little.
In a filing early last month, Sandusky’s defense lawyers argued there were multiple factors that should result in a shorter prison term, including their client’s background, upbringing and positive impact on others. They said the total sentence was “manifestly excessive.”

Dump Truck fire in Hays neighborhood, Pgh.

A fire broke out a little before 3:30 a.m. and spread through three dump trucks in Pittsburgh’s Hays neighborhood on Wednesday morning.

Kerrie Kelly, who lives nearby, said a man who stays in a camper near the site “Actually went up to the fire and started moving the trucks right next to it,”. I was scared for him. I was worried. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.” Reports say his action prevented the fire from spreading.
No injuries were reported. Arson investigators are looking into the cause of the fire.

A PATTERSON TWP. man is charged with simple and aggravated assault and child endangerment.

According to a police report, Timothy Paul Smith, 42, of Patterson Township, got into an argument with his step-daughter, a juvenile, on Jan. 12th. Smith slammed the girl’s head against a wall and threw her down the stairs, the report said. The girl reported the assault Jan. 15 to her school, police said.

According to online records, after posting a $25,000 bond Smith was released from Beaver County Jail. The case has been transferred to county court.

Another member of an Amish community was sentenced to prison for sexually molesting a minor from their community. This was the second time in less than a week.

Judge Andrew Logan of the Trumbull County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas sentenced Daniel Ray Kurtz to two years in prison. Kurtz had pleaded guilty in December to two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor for engaging a 14-year-old boy in oral sex in the summer of 2019 at his rural home in Middlefield, Ohio.

A half-dozen men and women from his Amish community as well as about 10 advocates for victims of child sexual abuse in Amish and related churches observed Tuesday’s sentencing.
They’re showing up for court hearings in silent solidarity with victims.

Ohio Man charged

A vehicle that matched the description of a car involved in an Ohio highway pursuit was seen driving west on Route 51 on Dec. 5 in Chippewa Township. Pennsylvania State Police said they attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Ayvree Leon Spratley, 22, of Bedford refused to pull over. Ohio State Police set up spike strips at the state line near Darlington Township, but Spratley fled on foot after he got a flat tire. Spratley was arrested by Ohio State Police, but is also charged in Pennsylvania with fleeing officers and other traffic offenses.

Theft by Deception

Michael Edward Beaver, 56, who owns Certified Welding in New Brighton was paid $10,500 by check to install a metal fence at a Chippewa Township home.

According to a police report, Beaver cashed the check that same day and did not return to the Chippewa home to complete the service. Beaver answered only one phone call by the Chippewa man, who asked for his money back and Beaver responded that he did not have the money anymore.

Chippewa Township police charged Beaver with theft by deception and receiving advance payment for services but failing to perform.

WEATHER WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

TODAY:Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 36F.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low 22F.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 41F.