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Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Police: Former Lebanon city mayoral candidate charged with domestic assault and harassment
A former Lebanon city mayoral candidate has been charged with domestic assault after a physical altercation with his girlfriend in March, according to the Lebanon City Police Department. Scott Hawryluk, also known as Scott Church, was charged with simple assault (domestic violence), and harassment after police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of Chestnut Street at 9:06 p.m. March 31. According to court documents, police met with Jennae Hamid, who reported her boyfriend, Church, had grabbed her by the sweatshirt and threw her back and forth. Police said that Hamid, also known as Jennae Tropea, went to the Good Samaritan Hospital for severe pain to her lower back that she sustained "from a physical altercation." According to court documents, the two were in a romantic relationship for nine months, and living together at the Chestnut Street address. "Hamid also advised Hawryluk was looking around for her gun, and kept stating 'Go get the gun and shoot me in the face,'" police said in court documents. "Hamid said she feared for her life." Church, a photographer, announced Jan. 16 that he planned to challenge incumbent Lebanon City Mayor Sherry Capello for the Republican nomination in the primary election. Church was removed from the ballot in March, after Capello said Church had 107 deficiencies in the signatures obtained for his candidate petition. County election officials told the Lebanon Daily News that Church had picked up a packet to run as a Libertarian candidate for the Lebanon city council race in November. Church has not filed that petition or filed his financial disclosure forms for his mayoral campaign as of June 3. Church has a preliminary hearing scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Maria Dissinger at 8 a.m. June 12. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Former Lebanon PA mayoral candidate charged with domestic assault
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Pier Hess Graf wins Republican primary for Lebanon Co. DA, will likely serve another term
Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf will likely serve another term after winning the Republican primary Tuesday night. With all 60 precincts reporting in and mail-in votes counted, Graf received 2,437 votes while senior public defender Michael Light II received 1,394 votes. No one ran on the Democratic ticket. 'The most humbling moment of my life was taking the oath as Lebanon County's District Attorney – to have the responsibility of protecting the community where I was born and raised,' Graf said when she announced her re-election campaign. According to a release by Graf in December, she took 105 defendants to trial during her 15-year career as a local prosecutor. Since becoming District Attorney in 2020, Graf claims she has a 100% conviction rate, and secured first-degree guilty verdicts in each homicide case she personally tried. As Lebanon County District Attorney, Graf presided over several high profile cases, including against Kimberly Maurer, who was convicted for the torture and murder of 11-year-old Maxwell Schollenberger. 'Our trial team spent years preparing for this trial. Every day, we sifted through evidence and listened to witnesses who detailed the cruelty and utter depravity that was Maxwell's all-too-short life," Graf said. "Knowing his killers will die in prison and never hurt a child again is one of the most meaningful accomplishments in my career." Graf also oversaw the investigation into the shooting death of Lebanon city police Lt. William Lebo in 2022. Lebo died in a shootout with a man who had broken into a home on the 1100 block of Forest Street. 'Being a prosecutor defines me to my core. I've spent my career in court aggressively facing heinous, violent, amoral criminals who preyed upon the innocent people of our community,' she said in her announcement release. The Pennsylvania 2025 municipal election is scheduled for Nov. 4. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Pier Hess Graf wins Republican nomination for Lebanon Co. DA
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lebanon County DA race: Why Pier Hess Graf and Michael Light will face off again on Nov. 4
Incumbent Pier Hess Graf and senior public defender Michael Light II will square off again in the general election for Lebanon County District Attorney. The Lebanon County Commissioners, who serve as the election board, voted to cumulate the variations of write-in votes for Light, making him eligible to be on the ballot as the Democratic nominee for the district attorney race in the November election. No candidate officially ran on the Democratic ticket for Tuesday's primary. According to county officials, 100 write-in votes are required to secure the nomination. After the commissioners voted to count all the variations of his name, Light had 263 write-in votes. "I'm looking at this list of 13 Mike Light, 97 for Michael Light II, 53 for Michael Light, 12 for Michael J. Light and 88 for Michael J. Light II," Commissioner Michael Kuhn said at the meeting. "In my opinion, they are all trying to vote for the same person." Light filed a request with the election board to cumulate the write-in votes for the Democratic nomination, according to county solicitor Matthew Bugli. Neither Light nor Graf appeared at Friday's election board meeting. "(Light) indicated in his petition that he is the only licensed attorney in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by the name of Michael Light, and obviously one of the requirements for district attorney is that you be a licensed attorney," Bugli told the board. Bugli added that a letter will be sent to Light to accept of reject that nomination. In an email to the Lebanon Daily News, Light said he plans to accept the board's decision to cumulate the votes and "represent the people of Lebanon County no matter what form of political status." "This race is not about politics," he wrote. "This race is about the will of the people and their need for change when it comes to the office of the district attorney. Right now I'm the only one seeking that change. I want to bring integrity back to the office. I will not give people reasons to report me to the disciplinary board. I will effectuate justice no matter what race, political background, social status, or any other factors. Everyone will be treated the same and be shown respect." Light added that he is "looking forward to unifying the practice of law in Lebanon County to be similar in the surrounding counties and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." He also appreciates all the votes and support from the Democratic Party. "I hope Republicans, independents, Democrats, and all other political parties vote for me and the change to the administration of the office of the district attorney," he said. Graf won on the Republican ticket during Tuesday's primary with 2,437 votes, according to unofficial results. Light received 1,394 votes. Speaking about her win Friday morning before the election board meeting, Graf thanked the Lebanon community for her election win. "It's four more years of keeping people safe putting bad guys behind bars and deporting illegal criminals," she said. Graf said she treats the running of a campaign the same way she treats a trial: it's a competition. "When you go into it, you're going to prepare, you're going to work very hard, and you're going to do everything that you can to win," she said. "So in a trial, you are trying to fight for your victim and for your community. When it comes to the campaign, I'm fighting for the ability to continue to do this job that I love, and that I truly feel that I was born to do this." Graf received 69 write-in votes in the Democratic primary. The general election will be held on Nov. 4. York Daily Record reporter Teresa Boeckel contributed to this story. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon County DA candidate Michael Light wins Democratic nomination
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Incumbent Mayor Sherry Capello wins 2025 Republican primary, faces Liriano in fall
Republican incumbent Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello will face Democrat Cesar Liriano again in the municipal elections Nov. 4 after both won their primaries Tuesday evening. With all precincts reporting and all mail-ins counted, Capello had 840 votes, while challenger Damian Vargas received 177 votes. There were 125 write-in votes in the Republican primary. Liriano, the only one running in the Democratic primary, received 552 votes. Capello is currently serving her fourth term as Lebanon city mayor after defeating Liriano in 2021. "I am proud of what has been accomplished during my tenure in office," Capello said to the Lebanon Daily News May 9. "We are moving the city forward, but we have more work to do to continue this momentum." Capello said that her administration has "improved public safety and efficiencies" for the police and fire departments by implementing new policies and providing necessary equipment to officers and volunteers. Her administration also secured more than $77 million in federal and state grants for various projects. If able to secure a fifth term, Capello said she wants to ensure sustainable housing for all residents and increase the number of affordable housing units to assist with workforce development concerns. Capello said she also wants to support additional investments in the Lebanon downtown and other commercial districts, along with continuing to be accountable with the taxpayers' money with responsible financial oversight of our annual city budget. Liriano is an independent contractor and former Lebanon School District board member. If elected in November, Lirano said he plans on maintaining a close relationship with the community so that they feel that his administration is for and by the people. "One of the biggest problems facing the city is the inability of new businesses to establish and sustain themselves," he said to the Lebanon Daily News earlier this month. "Some of the ways that I would address it are: 1. I would eliminate or minimize the obstacles people face when opening a business. 2. Create incentives for new businesses so they can be successful. 3. Identify locations where more parking can be created. 4. Support existing businesses so they can be successful." Liriano added that he would like to address the rise of drug use in the city especially among young people, and identifying areas and abandoned buildings to work with investment advocates to build affordable housing. The Pennsylvania 2025 municipal election is scheduled for Nov. 4. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Incumbent Republican Mayor Sherry Capello wins 2025 primary
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police: Palmyra mayoral candidate charged with DUI after driving his truck into a house
A Republican primary candidate for Palmyra mayor was arrested May 15 for allegedly crashing a truck into a house while driving under the influence, according to the Western Lebanon Regional Police Department. At 8:12 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 400 block of North Railroad Street and observed 10 people standing outside the crash location. According to court documents, Kevin Yiengst's vehicle, a white GMC Sierra pick up truck, had heavy front end damage into a house at the North Railroad/Willow Street intersection. Yiengst told police that he was not injured and didn't need EMS, though police reported a strong odor of "an alcoholic beverage" coming from his breath. "When EMS asked Yiengst what happened he pointed to his vehicle, then said 'a cat ran in front of me, I turned and...' and then put his hands up in the air," police said in court documents. While inside the ambulance, Yiengst was asked how much he had to drink. According to court documents, his response was "several," before adding "I was drinking Vodka and whatever the hell I was ... yes." When police asked Yiengst how long ago his last drink was, he allegedly responded "20 minutes ago." After performing field sobriety tests, police placed Yiengst in handcuffs and placed him under arrest for suspicion of DUI. "Yiengst mentioned several times throughout the investigation process that he was 'going to be the Mayor of Palmyra,'" police said in court documents. Due to the noise and doctor orders for Yiengst to be brought in for evaluation, Police said they escorted him to the ambulance. According to court documents, police then read Yiengst a DL 26b form, which is a blood test warning form. "Yiengst stated 'what the (expletive) are we doing all this (expletive) for? I told you the truth, you can read all the (expletive) all you want,'" police said in court documents. Police said that Yiengst originally agreed to do the blood draw, but after the ambulance took him to the Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center he refused. According to an affidavit of probable cause, police captured the refusal on a body camera and filled out the DL 26b form. Yeignst is one of the mayoral candidates on the ballot for the Palmyra Borough Council Republican Primary on May 20. According to a Facebook page called Conservative Republicans for Palmyra Borough Council, the Lebanon County Republican Committee officially endorsed Yiengst for mayor in the primary. Yiengst has been charged with DUI and careless driving. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled before Magisterial District Judge David Warner at 8 a.m. June 26. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Palmyra mayoral candidate charged with DUI after truck strikes a house
