42-YEAR-OLD MEGAN MINICH, THE WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHER WHO WAS ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A STUDENT AT HER HOME LAST NOVEMBER HAS BEEN FOUND NOT GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES.  IT WAS ALLEGED THAT MINICH HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH A STUDENT AT THE TIDIOUTE COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL THAT STARTED IN 2022.  SHE WAS CHARGED WITH 7 FELONIES INCLUDING UNLAWFUL CONTACT WITH A MINOR AND INSTITUTIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT.  HER LAWYER SAID THE TRIAL CAME DOWN TO THE CREDIBILITY OF THE WITNESSES THAT WERE CALLED TO TESTIFY. 

ACCORDING TO THE STATE POLICE, 35-YEAR-OLD HASAN MYERS, AN INMATE AT SCI-FOREST, IS FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY PUNCHED A CORRECTIONS OFFICER IN THE FACE DURING A SEARCH.  THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN APRIL AFTER CORRECTIONS OFFICERS SUSPECTED THAT HE HAD AN ITEM CONCEALED IN HIS PRISON PANTS.  MYERS ADMITTED TO PUNCHING THE OFFICER AS HE WAS PUTTING ON GOLVES FOR THE SEARCH.  HE’S DUE IN COURT ON NOVEMBER 17^TH.

SOME GOOD NEWS FOR FORMER ST. MARYS CITY AND CURRENT DUBOIS CITY MANAGER, JOE FLEMING.  HE’S BEEN ELECTED SECOND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE FOR 2027.  THE LEAGUE HELPS CITIES AND BOROUGHS ADDRESS VARIOUS MUNICIPAL CHALLENGES.  THE GROUP SHARES RESOURCES, DISCUSSES POLICY, AND CONNECTS OFFICIALS IN HOPES TO HELP ISSUES EACH OTHER FACES. 

ONE PERSON IS DEAD AS THE RESULT OF AN EARLY TUESDAY MORNING ACCIDENT IN HENDERSON TOWNSHIP, JEFFERSON COUNTY.  STATE POLICE TELL US IT HAPPENED ON ROUTE 119 WHEN 80-YEAR-OLD GARY WILSON, OF STUMP CREEK, LOST CONTROL OF HIS JEEP, LEFT THE ROADWAY AND SLAMMED INTO MULTIPLE TREES.  WILSON SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES AND WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. 

47-YEAR-OLD RICHARD BUSH OF DUBOIS HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF CORRUPTION OF MINORS.  THE JUDGE DELIBERATED FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES BEFORE THE VERDICT WAS READ.  THE VICTIM TESTIFIED THAT BUSH HAD INAPPROPRIATE CONTACT WITH HER WHEN SHE WAS 17-YEARS-OLD AND TALKED ABOUT INTERACTIONS THAT TOOK PLACE IN JANUARY AND MAY 2025.  BUSH TOOK THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE AND ADMITTED TO WATCHING PORNOGRAPHY ON HIS PHONE WHILE THE VICTIM WAS SITTING ON THE COUCH.  HE IS FREE ON SUPERVISED BAIL UNTIL SENTENCING.

CHICK-FIL-A IS COMING TO DUBOIS.  CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE CHAIN TO DEMOLISH THE EXISTING RITE AID BUILDING ON COMMONS DRIVE AND BUILD THE RESTARUANT.  THE APPROVAL IS CONTINGENT ON COMPLETING SEVERAL REQUIRED PROCESSES BEFORE WORK BEGINS. 

FIRE CREWS WERE DISPATCHED TO 54 WEST LONG AVENUE IN DUBOIS TO AN APARTMENT FIRE LAST SATURDAY AT JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT.  APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 RESIDENTS WERE EVACUATED AND THE FIRE WAS UNDER CONTROL BY 12:18AM.  ACCORDING TO THE DUBOIS FIRE WIRE, A PENNSYLVANIA FIRE MARSHALL ARRIVED AT THE SCENE SOMETIME LATER.  THE CLEARFIELD COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A FATALITY AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE AND THE CAUSE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. 

THE MCKEAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR 48-YEAR-OLD JOHN BROOKS OF SHEFFIELD.  HE WAS ISSUD BENCH WARRANTS IN TWO SEPARATE CASES AND FAILED TO APPEAR IN COURT FOR SENTENCING.  HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF FLIGHT TO AVOID APPREHENSION, DRUG CHARGES AND HARASSMENT.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON BROOK’S WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE MCKEAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE.

GAS PRICES ARE A TAD LOWER THIS WEEK IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.  TRIPLE A REPORTS THE AVERAGE PRICE AT 4.67 A GALLON, ABOUT 20 CENTS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.  THE LOWEST PRICE IN OUR AREA COMES IN BROOKVILLE, WHERE IT’S 4.48.    

19-YEAR-OLD NATHAN STAHLMAN OF WARREN WAS CHARGED IN JANUARY AND PLED GUILTY IN MAY TO FIRST DEGREE FELONY UNLAWFUL CONTACT WITH A MINOR, OTHER SEXUAL OFFENSES AND CRIMINAL USE OF A COMMUNICATION FACILITY.  HIS LAWYER’S ATTEMPT TO HAVE HIS SENTENCE RECONSIDERED HAS BEEN DENIED.  STAHLMAN WAS SENTENCED BY JUDGE TODD WOODIN ON AUGUST 21^ST TO 22-44 MONTHS IN PRISON AND ONE YEAR PROBATION.  THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE FILED THE MOTION ON SEPTEMBER 1^ST AND THE JUDGE’S DECISION WAS MADE RECENTLY.

SUZETTE MUSOLINO OF BRADFORD WAS SENTENCED TO 1 TO 3 YEARS IN STATE PRISON LAST WEEK ON DELIVERY OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE CHARGES FOR SELLING METHAMPHETAMINE ON JUNE 15^TH.  MACKENZIE GREEN OF PORT ALLEGENEY WAS ALSO SENTENCED FOR DELIVERY OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN SEPTEMBER.  HE WILL SERVE FROM 8 MONTHS TO 2 YEARS IN STATE PRISON.  BOTH WERE ORDERED TO PAY LAB FEES AND RESTITUTION TO THE MCKEAN COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE.

THE CASE AGAINST 45-YEAR-OLD ROBERT WOODS, JUNIOR OF SUMMERVILLE HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.  ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, WOODS REPORTED TO POLICE THAT HE WENT TO FLORIDA IN EARLY AUGUST AND RETURNED HOME ON SEPTEMBER 5^TH AND NOTICED A BLACK SENTURY SAFE MISSING FROM HIS HOME.  HE TOLD THEM THAT THERE WERE BANK BAGS AND ENVELOPES, PHOTOS, LICENSES AND CONTAINED BETWEEN $75,000 AND $100,000 CASH.  STATE POLICE OBTAINED A SEARCH WARRANT AND FOUND THE SAFE IN WOODS’ HOME WITH THE CONTENTS INSIDE, INCLUCING A CLEAR BAG OF SUSPECTED COCAINE.  HE REMAINS IN THE JEFFERSON COUNTY JAIL ON $50,000 BAIL.

THE VICTIM OF A FATAL ATV ACCIDENT THIS WEEK IN JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.  JEFFERSON COUNTY CORONER, GREG FURLONG, SAYS 81-YEAR-OLD KENNETH COMPTON, OF SUMMERVILLE, WAS KILLED WHEN HE TRIED TO CROSS ROUTE 36 ON HIS ATV AND WAS STRUCK BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE.  COMPTON WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE FROM BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA.  THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE ACCIDENT IS STILL ONGOING. 

CHARGES AGAINST 47-YEAR-OLD DARYL GOODROW OF JOHNSONBURG, WHO ALLEGEDLY WALKED AWAY FROM A WORK RELEASE PROGRAM, HAS ADVANCED TO THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.  ON SEPTEMBER 21^ST STATE POLICE WERE NOTIFED GOODROW LEFT FROM WORK RELEASE AT A BUSINESS IN DUBOIS AT JUST BEFORE 3PM AND THAT HE ENTERED A VEHICLE AND DID NOT RETURN TO THE BUSINESS OR THE JEFFERSON COUNTY JAIL.  TROOPERS LOCATED THE VEHICLE IN RIDGWAY SOMTIME LATER WITH GOODROW’S 66-YEAR-OLD MOTHER DONNA SORG DRIVING.  SORG’S CHARGES FOR AIDING HER SON WERE ALSO WAIVED FOR COURT.  GOODROW REMAINS BEHIND BARS WITH BAIL SET AT $50,000.

ELK COUNTY SHERIFF, TODD CALTAGARONE, IS WARNING THE PUBLIC ABOUT A RE-SURFACING SCAM THAT IS AFFECTING THE AREA.  IT INVOLVES IMPOSTERS POSING AS MEMBERS OF THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE TRYING TO MANIPULATE THE CALLER INTO BELIEVING THEY’VE COMMITTED A CRIME, OR OTHER FORM OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.  THE CALLER WILL TRY TO GET THE VICTIM TO GIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION, PAY MONEY, OR DO SOMETHING ELSE TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.  SHERIFF CALTAGARONE SAYS THESE CALLS ARE FAKE AND THAT THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT WILL NEVER CONTACT YOU IN THIS MANNER. 

56-YEAR-OLD TODD SWITZER OF STRATTANVILLE IS FACING ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN CHARGES AFTER STATE POLICE SAY THAT HE FAILED TO INTERVENE WHILE A 6-YEAR-OLD CHILD REPEATEDLY STRUCK A TWO-YEAR-OLD CHILD WITH A DOG LEASH.  ALLEGEDLY, THE INDICENT HAPPENED BACK IN DECEMBER AFTER CLARION COUNTY CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES MADE POLICE AWARE OF THE SITUATION AFTER A WELLNESS CHECK.  THE TWO-YEAR-OLD CHILD WAS BADLY BRUISED AND TROOPERS BELIEVE THAT SWITZER FAILED TO SUPERVISE THE CHILDREN.  HE IS DUE IN COURT ON OCTOBER 27^TH.

A FORMER PHARMACY ASSISTANT IS CHARGED WITH STEALING NEARLY 90 THOUSAND PRESCRIPTION OPIOID PILLS FROM THE SHEFFIELD PHARMACY, DATING BACK TO 2022.  ACCORDING TO THE PENNSYLVANIA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL, 34-YEAR-OLD ALYSSA MCDOWELL, OF SHEFFIELD ALLEGEDLY OBTAINED THE PILLS FRAUDULENTLY BY ORDERING MORE PILLS THAN REPORTED, REPORTING LOWER QUANTITIES, AND KEEPING THE EXTRAS.  SHE FACES MULTIPLE COUNTS IN THE CASE.

A DUBOIS MAN IS DUE IN COURT WEDNESDAY  FOR A PRELIMINARY HEARING ON STRANGULATION AND ASSAULT CHARGES.  DUBOIS CITY POLICE SAY 27-YEAR-OLD ELIJAH KEMMERER ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED AND CHOKED A FEMALE VICTIM AT A HOME ON PIFER STREET LAST FRIDAY NIGHT.  POLICE OBSERVED VISIBLE INJURIES TO THE VICTIM.  KEMMERER IS BEHIND BARS IN THE CLEARFIELD COUNTY JAIL. 

CITY OF BRADFORD POLICE HAVE CHARGED 26-YEAR-OLD DEVIN ORTZ AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED A WOMAN HOLDING A BABY AT AN ELM STREET RESIDENCE.  OFFICERS SAY THAT ORTZ THREW THE VICTIM ON TO THE BED WHILE HOLDING THEIR ONE-YEAR-OLD CHILD AND ALLEGEDLY CONTINUED TO ASSAULT HER WHILE THE CHILD WAS BEING HELD.  HE WAIVED HIS PRELIMINARY HEARING AND HIS CASE HAS MOVED TO THE MCKEAN COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS FOR THE NEXT PHASE.  ORTZ REMAINS IN THE MCKEAN COUNTY JAIL ON $10,000 CASH BAIL.

A ST. MARYS MAN IS FACING SEVERAL CHARGES AFTER ALLEGEDLY LEADING POLICE ON A HIGH-SPEED CHASE OVER THE WEEKEND.  ST. MARYS CITY POLICE SAY IT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE 2 SATURDAY MORNING IN THE AREA OF WEHLER ROAD AND WEST ESCHBACH ROAD WHEN THEY TRIED TO STOP 19-YEAR-OLD JUSTIN HERBSTRITT AFTER OBSERVING SEVERAL TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.  HERBSTRITT THEN ALLEGEDLY DROVE OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND DISABLED HIS VEHICLE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.  HE IS BELIEVED TO ALLEGEDLY HAVE BEEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.