Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

A man who denied allegations that he inappropriately touched a woman back in July admitted to it earlier today. 21-year-old Trevor Neal of Turtlepoint is charged with aggravated indecent assault in connection to an incident at a 44-year-old woman’s home on the night of July 6. After the woman reported it to police, Neal told them he went inside the house to get the guns and cigarettes he left while partying there earlier. He said he was trying to wake her up and didn’t mean to touch her inappropriately. Today, he admitted that he went into the bedroom with the intention of “copping a feel,” and did grab her, according to papers filed in District Judge Bill Todd’s office. Neal is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

An Eldred man is facing charges for a burglary in Port Allegany. Geromia Schoonover is charged with felony burglary and misdemeanor counts of defiant trespass, criminal mischief/tampering with property, and disorderly conduct in connection to an incident Monday in the borough. Schoonover is free on $5,000 unsecured bail and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for November 6 in front of District Judge Bill Todd. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 21-year-old man who sent naked pictures of himself to a girl younger than 18 has waived his preliminary hearing on child pornography charges. Jacob Tarr confessed to his parole officer and a police officer that he sent the pictures to the teenager from a computer in Port Allegany, as well as other places in McKean County, according to papers filed in District Judge Bill Todd's office. Tarr is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Charges against the man involved in a fatal Memorial Day weekend crash near Port Allegany have been bound to McKean County Court. 31-year-old Jerver Fernandez of Luzerne County appeared for a preliminary hearing in front of District Judge Bill Todd today. Fernandez is charged with homicide by vehicle and homicide by vehicle while DUI in connection to the May 24 crash on Route 6 that killed 27-year-old Robert Bowes. Fernandez is free on $25,000 unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Smethport man accused of firing a gun into a vehicle during 4th of July weekend, and then pointing the gun at two people has waived his preliminary hearing. Court records say 40-year-old Damin Parris punched a man in the head after the man had been joking around with Parris’ dog. When the man said he was going to leave, Parris yelled, and then fired two shots into the man’s truck. The man ran into the woods. Parris then walked toward a woman’s car and, when she asked him to give her the gun, he started to point it toward her. She grabbed it, drove away in her car and met state police in the parking lot of District Judge Bill Todd’s office. Parris is charged with two counts each of aggravated assault and related offenses. He had been in McKean County Jail on $100,000 bail, but was released after this morning's hearing on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Homicide by vehicle and other charges against the man accused of careless driving in a crash that killed an 8-year-old boy have been bound to McKean County Court. 21-year-old Tieler Raymo of Smethport appeared before District Judge Bill Todd this afternoon. On the afternoon of February 8, 2013, on East Valley Road in Smethport, Raymo was allegedly speeding on the wrong side of the road when his SUV crashed into another vehicle, killing the little boy from Shinglehouse. Raymo is also charged with aggravated assault by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person and a number of summary traffic offenses. Raymo is free on $20,000 unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A 44-year-old convicted sex offender from Port Allegany waived his preliminary hearing this morning on charges that he sexually abused a 5-year-old boy in January. Charles Kontz was left alone with the child on the afternoon of January 31 when the sexual assault happened. The boy’s grandmother told police she has seen significant changes in the little boy since the incident, including his fear of men and wetting the bed, according to papers filed in District Judge Bill Todd’s office. According to court papers Kontz was alone with the child for 10 to 15 minutes. Kontz is charged with indecent assault, endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor. He was convicted in 2003 for indecent assault of a child. Kontz remains in McKean County Jail on $50,000 The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Nearly 900 charges against a Port Allegany man accused of sexually abusing a girl have been bound to McKean County Court following a preliminary hearing today in front of District Judge Bill Todd. 65-year-old Gordon Link is accused of sexually assaulting a girl repeatedly from the time she was 5 years old until she turned 15. He remains in McKean County Jail on $150,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

UPDATE: State police say "after returning home from drinking" at about 1:30 a.m. Bernhard got into a fight with a 28-year-old woman, which left her with a small cut below her nose. ~~~ A Westline man is charged with assault following an incident this morning in Lafayette Township. 27-year-old Travis Bernhard was arraigned by District Judge Bill Todd on charges of simple assault and harassment. He is free on $10,000 unsecured bail and has been scheduled to appear in Central Court on Thursday in front of District Judge Rich Luther.

Charges against the man accused of running a marijuana growing operation in the Allegheny National Forest have been bound to court following a preliminary hearing today in front of District Judge Bill Todd. 57-year-old William Kamholtz of Frewsburg, New York, was arrested in September after law enforcement officials saw him harvest his marijuana crop, and then stopped his truck and found a duffel bag with suspected marijuana in it, according to court papers. Authorities say they had been watching a field with about 50 marijuana plants in it for some time before they arrested Kamholtz. He’s in McKean County Jail on $75,000 bail, but is also facing charges in Chautauqua County. He is accused of having more than seven pounds of marijuana in his house, along with a marijuana drying shed, growing equipment and several firearms. His wife, 53-year-old Susan Kamholtz, is also charged in connection to the growing operation in Frewsburg. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Mount Jewett man is accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenager. 26-year-old Justin Cornelius allegedly started having sex with the 14-year-old in March, but had been talking to, hugging and kissing her since September of last year, according to papers filed in District Judge Bill Todd’s office. On July 2 the girl’s mother contacted police after she found graphic text messages describing a sexual relationship between her daughter and Cornelius. Cornelius is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

State and Congressional redistricting has received most of the focus as lawmakers try to draw new district maps, but boundaries for District Judges are also under review following the federal Census. McKean County Judge John Pavlock today issued a report saying outlining he has proposed. The report says although there is a minor decline in McKean County’s population, the likelihood of increased population and caseload from Marcellus and standard natural gas development are among the factors that outweigh a reduction in district judges. He said caseloads of the current judges, however, does call for a change in the current districts. The proposal moves the City of Bradford’s 6th Ward 1st District from District Judge Dominic Cercone to Rich Luther. Lafayette Township would move from District Judge Bill Todd to David Engman. Pavlock said if, after the next federal Census, McKean County sees another population decline and increased demands do not materialize, reduction may be appropriate. ...

An Eldred woman is in jail on drug charges. Police say 24-year-old Michelle King was found to be in possession of marijuana packaged for sale last week in Eldred, and was charged with a felony count of possession with intent to deliver marijuana. She is also charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use, a misdemeanor. Her bail is set at $7,500, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday in front of District Judge Bill Todd.

A former volunteer firefighter already serving state prison time for setting three arson fires has been charged with setting two more blazes, according to papers filed in District Judge Bill Todd’s office. 40-year-old Scott McClain, who police are calling a serial arsonist, set fires at the Eldred Township and Eldred Borough fire halls, as well as a camp in Eldred Township. Now he’s charged with setting two more fires – one to the Eldred Borough ambulance building, and the other to his father’s garage. The fires were set in June and July of 2009.

A Bradford man is in jail for allegedly raping a person younger than 16. Bradford City Police charged 19-year-old Anthony Kremer with felony counts of rape by forcible compulsion, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Kremer was arraigned by District Judge Bill Todd this afternoon and is in jail on $75,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in front of District Judge Dominic Cercone.

A Bradford couple is in jail after allegedly breaking into a South Avenue house early this morning. 24-year-old Michael Schoonover and 23-year-old Amanda Ayers are accused of breaking into an unoccupied home at 246 South Avenue at about 5:30 this morning. Police got a call from a witness who saw the couple force open a door and go inside. When police got to the house, they heard someone barricading the door from the inside, according to papers faxed to WESB and The HERO by District Judge Bill Todd. Police then went in another door, searched the house and found Schoonover, who they say was intoxicated. Police found a crow bar near the found door, and fresh pry marks that matched the size of the crow bar. They say Schoonover also had a flashlight and muscle relaxers that he didn’t have a prescription for, according to court papers. Schoonover told police that he and Ayers wanted to see what was in the house because they needed some items like dishes, according to court papers. Police sea...