Latest news with #CountyCourt
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania man sentenced to three consecutive life terms in triple homicide
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (WHTM) — A Pennsylvania man accused of killing his sister, stepmother, and the mother of his children will spend the rest of his life behind bars, sentenced to three consecutive life term without parole. Andre Gordon, Jr. pleaded guilty Wednesday to three counts of first degree murder, as well as charges of attempted homicide, burglary, aggravated assault, and robbery, among others. He was set to face trial in Bucks County Court for the March 16, 2024 killings of his 13-year-old sister, his 52-year-old stepmother Karen Gordon and his 25-year-old girlfriend, Taylor Daniel. PREVIOUS COVERAGE > Man faces charges in two states after alleged killings of family members in Pennsylvania This happened in Falls Township in eastern Bucks County, near Morrisville and across the Delaware River from Trenton, New Jersey. Gordon was accused of carjacking a vehicle in that city, driving to his father's residence and breaking in, the Bucks County District Attorney's Office said in a news release. Karen Gordon and her 13-year-old daughter were found dead by Falls Township Police responding to a reported shooting there. He then went to Daniel's home, authorities said, alleging that he forced his way into the home and shot and killed her. Multiple members of the family, including their two children, were present and Daniel's mother, Nancy, was assaulted in the act. In Morrisville shortly after, he was accused of carjacking another vehicle at the Dollar General. Gordon was sentenced Wednesday by President Judge Raymond F. McHugh to three life terms without parole on the first-degree murder charges and 156 1/2 years to 313 years on the remaining charges. The sentences are to run consecutively. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices 'There are no words to explain why this happened,' McHugh said in the sentencing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
East Meredith man indicted on 8 counts of child sex abuse
DELHI, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – An East Meredith man is facing an eight-count indictment of felony sexual abuse of a child on multiple occasions in 2024, Delaware County District Attorney Shawn Smith announced Friday. 20-year-old Mario A. Sierra, of East Meredith, is being accused of committing multiple sexual acts with a person under 15 years old in July of 2024 in both Otsego County and Delaware County. Two counts of felony rape in the second degree and one count of criminal sexual act in the second degree allege Sierra committed sexual acts on a child in the City of Oneonta in July 2024. The other five counts, four being rape in the second degree and one count of criminal sexual act, allege Sierra committed sexual acts against a child in the Town of Meredith in July 2024. Sierra appeared in Delaware County Court on Friday, May 23, for arraignment and was set bail of $25,000 cash, $50,000 bond or $100,000 partially secured bond. Sierra was taken into the custody of the Delaware County Correctional Facility, in lieu of bail. Trump faces scrutiny over private dinner with crypto donors Vestal senior appointed to Naval Academy First look at the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Elizabeth Church Manor up for sale by United Methodist Homes Billy Joel diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus: What is it? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ABC News
23-05-2025
- ABC News
Ex-AFL player Nick Stevens accused of defrauding swimming pool customer of almost $30k
A new witness has given evidence in former AFL player Nick Stevens' fraud trial, alleging Mr Stevens duped him out of almost $30,000 in a dodgy swimming pool deal. Stevens is charged with dishonestly accepting more than $170,000 from families in Greater Mildura and is currently facing trial in the County Court of Victoria. Earlier in the trial the 45-year-old pleaded not guilty to all 18 fraud-related charges. The court heard on Friday that David Byrnes paid Mr Stevens $27,513.75 on November 14, 2017 for a pool to be installed at his Irymple address, one suburb away from Mildura, equalling 75 per cent of the total cost of the pool. Mr Byrnes told the court he was expecting Mr Stevens to deliver and install a brand new pool, however was given a beat-up, cracked pool riddled with structural and aesthetic problems. "It wasn't brand new. There was cracks. There still is cracks," Mr Byrnes said before the jury. "[There were] surface cracks in the steps and there was a big hole in the skimmer box that stood out. There was square foam bits on the side of it [the pool].' Upon further investigation, Mr Byrnes learned Mr Stevens also lacked the proper permit to install the structure. "We thought part of the process was you had to get the permit first to start the proceedings to put the pool in," Mr Byrnes said. Mr Stevens never replaced the damaged pool, never installed it legally and correctly, and never provided Mr Byrnes with a refund, the court heard. "You need business insurance from a builder to get the permit to put the pool in," Mr Byrnes said. "Nick didn't have that builders licence to get the insurance to get the permit." Mr Byrnes told the court he asked Mr Stevens for a refund several times. To which Mr Byrnes alleged Mr Stevens responded: "You've got to be kidding me. It's not worth taking the pool out." Director of sales distribution at Explore Industries – formerly Leisure Pools – Jason Smith took the stand on Friday. Mr Smith has held the position at the Queensland-based pool distribution business for two decades, including throughout the time of Mr Stevens' alleged offending. The County Court heard defence barrister Jim Stavris read part of a statement Mr Smith had given, where he said: "He [Nick Stevens] told me [Jason Smith] Nick had a good friend [Brian Mcdonnell] in Mildura who would provide the correct licensing until such time Nick could obtain his own." "I was reassured by him he had this covered and so proceeded to the dealership phase," Mr Smith's statement read. Mr Smith replied by saying he didn't understand. Mr Smith said the plan proposed by Brian Mcdonnell addressed a "gap" in the pool licensing system. "People need a licence to be able to install swimming pools," he told the court. "But you can't learn how to install swimming pools without a licence." Mr Smith told the court he understood Nick Stevens' good friend Brian Mcdonnell was going to use his licence to train people installing pools, so they could later get their own licences. "We were quite excited about this approach, it was new to us," Mr Smith said before the jury. The trial continues.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former NY trooper Thomas Mascia pleads guilty to faking his own shooting
A former New York State trooper accused of faking his own shooting and sparking a massive manhunt for a made-up suspect will spend six months behind bars after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including official misconduct and tampering with evidence. As part of the plea deal, 27-year-old Thomas Mascia agreed to the six-month jail term followed by five years probation, during which he'll have to undergo mental health treatment. The disgraced trooper will also have to pay $289,500 in restitution for overtime pay for officers who spent three days searching for the fabricated suspect. Prosecutors say that on the night of Oct. 30, 2024, the West Hempstead resident told authorities that a gunman shot him while he was checking on a disabled vehicle on Long Island's Southern State Parkway. The alleged shooter — who he described as a 'black-skinned' driver of a Dodge Charger with temporary New Jersey license plates — opened fire as Mascia stopped to offer help, he claimed. Mascia, who was hailed as a hero, was transported to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his right leg as state officials launched a multi-state search to locate the Charger. But just days after the alleged shooting, state investigators announced they were looking into 'certain inconsistencies' in Mascia's story. 'The evidence uncovered and the absence of evidence told us everything we needed to know,' Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly said after an investigation. 'His harrowing story was nothing more than an elaborate work of fiction.' Prosecutors said he shot himself in a nearby park and then drove to the highway before calling for backup, as part of an elaborate scheme to gain sympathy. Mascia was arrested in January on charges of tampering with physical evidence, falsely reporting an incident and official misconduct. He resigned from state police on Jan. 24. After initially pleading not guilty, Mascia was expected to accept a plea deal earlier this month, but that hearing was adjourned when he told Nassau County Court Judge Robert Bogle he didn't feel well mentally. On Wednesday, Mascia formally accepted his plea. 'You knew this was a lie and chose to do it anyway?' Mascia was asked by Jared Rosenblatt, of the district attorney's office, during the proceedings. 'Yes,' he replied. Mascia will now 'face the consequences for his fabrications and for tarnishing the oath he took to serve and protect New Yorkers,' DA Donnelly said in a statement Wednesday, commenting on the former trooper's 'pathetic stunt.' Mascia's parents, who were charged with weapon offenses after a semiautomatic rifle with illegal modifications was found in their bedroom during a November search, also pleaded guilty on Wednesday. All three defendants are scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 20. With News Wire Services
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman charged in deadly head-on crash in Rochester
A Rochester woman accused of driving drunk and causing a fatal crash on Clifford Avenue in April was arraigned Wednesday morning in Monroe County Court. Tashara Willis, 34, was driving west on Clifford Avenue early on April 4, when she drove into the eastbound lane and struck an oncoming car head-on, said Capt. Frank Umbrino of the Rochester Police Department. Otis Johnson, 58, of Rochester died as a result of the two-vehicle crash at Clifford Avenue and Sixth Street. He was alone in his vehicle. Both Johnson and Willis were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. Johnson died shortly after he arrived, according to police. Willis was hospitalized for several weeks. Johnson's death marked Rochester's 12th homicide of 2025, Umbrino said. Willis was charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, both felonies, among other driving while intoxicated charges, Umbrino said. Just before the fatal crash, Willis is accused of leaving a bar and speeding in excess of 80 mph alongside another car on Clifford Avenue, Umbrino said. She is accused of driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs, with a revoked driver's license due to two previous felony DWI convictions. On the night of the crash, police also alleged that Willis had more than 20 bags of cocaine in her possession, Umbrino said. Willis surrendered with her lawyer Wednesday morning and was arraigned in Monroe County Court, where the indictment was unsealed. She was granted a non-monetary release due to her extensive medical condition, and is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 5, according to Rochester police. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Tashara Willis charged in deadly head-on crash in Rochester NY
