The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

August 4, 2008

Chase driver draws time-served sentence

By Joe Pinchot

SHENANGO VALLEY —

Yousef A. Adhami not only put police and the public in danger when he led police on a two-state chase Jan 7, he also set back the cause of Palestinians looking to make a life in the United States by claiming that he had explosives and was willing to use them, a local judge said.

“It was an insult to every law-abiding Palestinian in this country,” Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Francis J. Fornelli said Monday.

But, America is a generous and forgiving country, and its people are willing to give Adhami a chance to prove his worth, Fornelli said, adding that he was willing to give Adhami that chance.

Fornelli sentenced Adhami to time served, 2 years’ probation and a $500 fine on charges of fleeing police and terroristic threats. The judge also permitted Adhami to immediately move to California so Adhami can be with his ailing mother.

“I thank you so much, sir,” said Adhami, who pleaded guilty in June.

Adhami, who turns 39 today, of Youngstown, formerly of Farrell, was clocked doing 69 in a 35 mph zone at 10:45 a.m. on state Route 304, Hubbard Township, Pennsylvania State Police said.

The patrolmen pursued Adhami’s car, but Adhami refused to stop and entered Shenango Township on state Route 318. Southwest Mercer County Regional police picked up the pursuit, which ended when Adhami drove his car into a corn field off Mercer-West Middlesex Road, between Lebanon Church and Greenfield roads, in Lackawannock Township, state police said.

When Adhami got out of the car, he warned police to get back, said he had explosives and would use them against police, police said.

State and Southwest police negotiated with Adhami while West Middlesex volunteer firefighters closed a one-mile stretch of the road, police said.

Adhami was arrested after about two hours. A policeman was able to get close enough to spray him with pepper spray.

Members of the Allegheny County Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit searched the car, but found no explosives.

At his preliminary hearing he said he was addicted to crack cocaine and “whatever they gave me” at the time of his arrest.

Fornelli said drugs derailed the life of a man who is hard-working and driven, but that ambition may have led him to drugs.

Adhami was working and had three years in toward a civil engineering degree when he was arrested.

“You drove yourself so hard you sought chemical ways to maintain that level of performance,” Fornelli said.

“I wish I could take the clock back,” Adhami said.

Fornelli said Adhami has so much of his life yet to lead and so many people who care about him.

“You’re a bright man,” Fornelli said. “You have such a bright future.”

Adhami said he wanted to live up to those expectations.

“I want to get back to my old ways when I can get up, go to work and come back to my wife,” Adhami said.

Text Only
Local News
  • Labor Dept.: Franchise’s workers not paid properly

    The owners of the Brookfield Subway restaurant have been paying their employees less than minimum wage, shorting them on overtime pay and violating child labor laws for two years, a federal lawsuit alleges.

    February 7, 2012

  • Insecurity: Firm loses more local clients

    Reynolds Area School District is scrambling to find people to work security at upcoming games after finding out the Pittsburgh-area security firm they were using had some guards who were convicted felons or sex offenders.
    “That was a shock, believe me,” said school board President John Lowry.

    February 7, 2012

  • School budget predictions improve

    The upshot to planning for a worst-case scenario is it makes any change an improvement.
    Such is the case with Farrell Area School District’s finances, business manager William Dungee told school board members Monday.

    February 7, 2012

  • Chief gripe: Cramped quarters

    In Sharpsville, the long arm of the law needs room to stretch out.
    Police Chief Keith Falasco told council members Monday night that his department’s current space “is at the least inadequate,” and after off-and-on talks over the years to make improvements, he said the time has come.

    February 7, 2012

  • Pets perish in house fire

    A Sharon family’s home was heavily damaged in a Saturday night fire that killed their pets.

    February 6, 2012

  • Kelly rallies GOP faithful

    Mercer County Republicans agreed it was time for a change from the current administration at their annual Lincoln Day dinner Saturday night at Hempfield Station One Banquet Center, and Congressman Mike Kelly called not only for change but for more accountability.

    February 6, 2012

  • Mother leads charge for son’s autism therapy


    Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget cuts are preventing children with autism from getting the help they need.

    February 5, 2012

  • Victim describes armed robbery at her home

    Charges were held to court Friday against a Sharon teen charged as an adult in an October armed robbery.

    February 4, 2012

  • Overheated motor starts small fire at gas well

    Jamestown volunteer firefighters put out an accidental natural gas well equipment fire Friday morning in Greene Township that started when a pump motor overheated.

    February 4, 2012

  • Burglary was man’s solution to money woes

    The end of 2010 was “a crazy time in my life,” Grant T. Lockhart told a judge Thursday.

    February 4, 2012