Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane, Acting State Police Commissioner Marcus Brown and Federal Bureau of Investigation representatives today announced that murder charges have been filed against a Beaver County man accused of killing Katherine “Kathy” Dolan Heckel of Lock Haven, Clinton County, in 1991. Loyd Groves Loyd Groves, 65, 239 Fourth St., Beaver, Beaver County, has been arrested and charged with one count of murder in the first degree and one count of murder in the third degree related to Heckel’s disappearance 24 years ago. “For more than two decades, investigators have worked to bring to justice the man responsible for Kathy Heckel’s disappearance,” Attorney General Kane said. “This is a testament to the commitment and collaborative efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. We hope that the arrest of Loyd Groves brings some relief to her family, friends and colleagues. We will fiercely pursue these charges.” The Office of Attorne...

A jury came back with a split decision in the trial of a probation officer accused of making sexual advances toward at least three women he was supervising. 38-year-old Jeffrey Collins of Kane was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault, two counts of official oppression, and one count of harassment. He was found not guilty of one count of indecent assault and count of harassment. The jury was deadlocked on another count of indecent assault. While working as a probation officer in Warren County, Collins was accused of exposing his genitals and engaging in sexual activity in front of one of the women while she was in his office. He also allegedly asked them to take photos or videos of themselves having sex in exchange for favorable consideration involving their probation. Collins’ lawyer argued that the women – quote – wanted it until it became inconvenient. He also compared the situation to that of former President Bill Clinton, saying he was never charged and obviously had ...

Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery has announced his retirement, amid the state government email pornography scandal. McCaffery has sent a letter to Governor Tom Corbett announcing his plans to retire from the bench, and the Judicial Conduct Board released the following statement: "Based on a limited waiver by Justice Seamus P. McCaffery of the confidentiality provisions of the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Judicial Conduct Board’s Rules of Procedure that would otherwise prohibit the Board from commenting on the matters pending before it, the Board issues the following statement in light of Justice McCaffery’s retirement from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania: Pursuant to its constitutional mandate, the Judicial Conduct Board has been investigating allegations involving Justice McCaffery for several months, including some of very recent origin which have been disclosed in the media. If the Board were to continue its investigations and institute proceedings agains...

A man has pleaded guilty to sharing child pornography online. 19-year-old Christian Imperial of Warren is accused of having media files on his computer that depicted children younger than 18 engaging in sexually graphic acts and poses. Agents with the state attorney general’s office say Imperial’s computer contained hundreds of files of child pornography. A review by the Sexual Offender Assessment Board has been ordered and sentencing has been tentatively scheduled for November 3. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Charges against the Bradford man accused by the state attorney general’s office of having dozens of images of child pornography have been bound to McKean County Court. 36-year-old Steven Hurd appeared before District Judge Dominic Cercone this morning on charges of child pornography, disseminating photographs or film of child sex acts and criminal use of a communication facility. When Hurd’s Mechanic Street home was searched a month ago agents with the attorney general’s office found sexually graphic images of children on his computer, some of pre-pubescent girls with their genitals explosed, according to court papers. Special Agent Matthew Zahm of the Computer Forensics Unit removed 42 images from Hurd’s computer but noted, that was just a sampling of what was there. Hurd remains in McKean County Jail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947