Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Former McKean County Sheriff Brad Mason had been scheduled to appear in McKean County Court on Friday for a Last Day to Plea conference, but that has been moved to next month. Mason is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl who was renting a house from him in Bradford Township. The relationship was consensual. Mason resigned as sheriff in July of last year. The charges were filed in January. His next court appearance is now scheduled for June 18. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Charges against former McKean Former McKean County Sheriff Brad Mason, who is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl who was a tenant at a rental home he owns in Bradford Township, have been bound to court following a preliminary hearing this morning. Mason appeared before visiting District Judge Glenn Carlson of Warren for an arraignment, followed by the hearing. A state police news release says the “consensual sexual relationship” went on from December 6 of 2012 to May 12 of last year. He retired as sheriff in July. Mason, who is 52 years old, is also accused of providing alcohol to the girl. State police say the accusations came to light during investigation of an unrelated civil matter. Carlson heard the case because of Mason’s relationships with the McKean County district judges. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Former McKean County Sheriff Brad Mason is accused of have a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl was a tenant at a rental home he owns in Bradford Township. A state police news release says the “consensual sexual relationship” went on from December 6 of 2012 to May 12 of last year. He retired as sheriff in July. Mason, who is 52 years old, is also accused of providing alcohol to the girl. State police say the accusations came to light during investigation of an unrelated civil matter. An arraignment date has not been set as of this morning. The charges against Mason are misdemeanors. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

County Commissioner Al Pingie confirms to WESB that Brad Mason has resigned as warden at the McKean County Jail. His resignation is effective Thursday, July 10. The commissioners oversee Mason in his role as warden. However his sheriff's position is an elected position. Pingie says he has not seen the resignation letter yet because he and commissioner Cliff Lane were out of town today, but Commissioner Joe DeMott informed them of Mason’s plans to resign. Speculation has been rampant as to why Mason took an extended vacation and leave of absence but Pingie says, as far as he knows, none of that was addressed in the letter. We’ll bring you more on this developing story later this evening.

Candidates for McKean County Sheriff and Bradford City Council participated in a forum Thursday night at the Bradford Area Public Library, sponsored by the American Association of University Women. The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford's Dr. Stephen Robar was the moderator. To give you an opportunity to form your own opinions on what they had to say, we are providing you with the audio of the event. Candidates for McKean County Sheriff : Steve Caskey, Brian Gustafson, Brad Mason (pictured) Candidates for Bradford City Council Brad Mangel, Tim Pecora, Fred Proper The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

There still time to submit questions for the Candidate Forum set for Thursday night at the Bradford Area Public Library. The forum, sponsored by the American Association of University Women, is set to start at 7:30 p.m. and will include candidates for McKean County sheriff as well as Bradford City Council. Dr. Steve Robar, political science professor at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will be the moderator. Questions can be emailed to aauw_bradford@yahoo.com  The sheriff race is a contested race between Republicans Steve Caskey, Brian Gustafson and Brad Mason. Three candidates are running for three seats on Bradford City Council. They are Brad Mangel, Tim Pecora and Fred Proper, all Republicans. The forum is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. The primary election is May 21. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The American Association of University Women - Bradford Branch is holding a Candidate Forum for the upcoming Primary Election. This Forum, featuring those running for McKean County sheriff and Bradford City Council, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in the community room of the Bradford Area Public Library. Dr. Stephen Robar, associate professor of political science at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will moderate the forum. There are three Republican candidates running for sheriff – Brad Mason, the current sheriff, Steve Caskey and Brian Gustafson. There are also three candidates running for three seats on city council. They are incumbent Fred Proper, Brad Mangel, who was appointed to fill the unexpired seat of Rick Benton and newcomer Tim Pecora, all Republicans. “Our group is excited to be able to bring this forum to the voters of McKean County,” said Sandy Rhodes, co-president of AAUW. “We are hopeful that this will give voters the information they...

McKean County has a new way of punishing criminals. The Intermediate Punishment Program falls between imprisonment and probation, and can include ankle bracelets to monitor the offenders. The McKean County Commissioners, as well as Sheriff Brad Mason and Public Defender Doug Garber, say this will cut costs for the county because fewer people will have to be housed at the jail, and the county won't have to incur costs associated with that. Mason and District Attorney John Pavlock also said this will address the problem of overcrowding at the jail. People who have a history of violent behavior – such as assault, robbery and kidnapping – as well as sexual and drug trafficking offenses – are not eligible for the program.