Local News
Weaver attorney begins appeal
Krystle Sue Weaver’s attorney on Friday began the process to appeal her conviction of murdering Thomas Lorigan and attempting to murder his daughter, Heather Lorigan.
Ms. Weaver, 22, Fowler, Ohio, was found guilty Sept. 23 by a jury on all counts against her in the Mercer County Common Pleas Court of Judge John C. Reed.
She was sentenced on Sept. 25 to two, concurrent terms of life in prison without parole for the May 20, 2008, stabbing attack in Ms. Lorigan’s former home at 94 Clinton St., Apartment 103, Greenville.
She was also sentenced to varying terms for other convictions related to the attack to be served concurrently. Updated court files online show Ms. Weaver also owes about $15,000 in court costs and restitution.
Lorigan, 44, lived in Greene Township and Ms. Lorigan, 23, now lives in Sugar Grove Township and is in a wheelchair, still recovering from her wounds. She has two young daughters who were present at the attack but not harmed.
Misko filed these post-sentence motions:
• Judgment of acquittal. Misko said he’s asking Reed to acquit Ms. Weaver on all counts except a robbery charge because there was no evidence that showed she planned the attack nor did she stab Lorigan or Ms. Lorigan.
• Arrest of judgment. The jury “got it wrong” with their guilty on all counts verdict and Reed should overrule the jurors’ decision, Misko said.
• Schedule a new trial. Reed wouldn’t allow testimony from a forensic psychiatrist on behalf of Ms. Weaver, Misko said.
• Withdraw himself from the case. If Reed denies the motions, Misko will ask to be removed from the case because the Weaver family can’t afford to continue to pay him for his services. A public defender would be appointed to represent Ms. Weaver.
Reed has 120 days to rule on the motions and if he doesn’t respond, they’re deemed denied, Misko said. Ms. Weaver’s attorney can then appeal to the state’s Superior Court.
Misko maintains the stabbing was planned and carried out by Ms. Weaver’s boyfriend, Ronald Victor Machado, 21, Jamestown. Ms. Weaver told police she witnessed the attack but never admitted to holding a knife or stabbing anyone, Misko said.
Ms. Lorigan testified she remembered seeing Ms. Weaver holding a knife but only remembers Machado stabbing her.
Machado hanged himself in his cell at Trumbull County Jail, Warren, four days after he was arrested.
His suicide wasn’t mentioned during the trial’s four days of testimony because it was irrelevant to the case, Mercer County District Attorney Robert G. Kochems said after the trial.
Kochems on Friday said Misko’s motions weren’t a surprise and they’re always expected from defense attorneys.
Ms. Weaver is at the women’s state prison in Muncy, Lycoming County.
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Court nixes ruling man is sexually violent predator
State Superior Court has denied a local judge’s request to issue a precedential opinion in a rape case.
Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge John C. Reed had ruled that Chad S. Thompson, 24, formerly of Stoneboro, is a sexually violent predator, but Superior Court said in a 2-1 decision July 8 that an expert’s testimony was insufficient to back that declaration.
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Stacey wants to continue fight over razed home
Raymond Stacey has requests pending in three courts as he presses his long-running attempt to prosecute the city of Hermitage and those he believes are responsible for illegally demolishing his parents’ house.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Philadelphia, on April 29 quashed an appeal because Stacey did not file his argument brief and appendix of supporting documents.
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Burglars strike while residents sleep
Several Shenango Valley residents’ homes were broken into overnight Tuesday and Wednesday while they slept.
Two burglaries in Sharon involved people entering open windows.
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Commissioners formally move to raise sewer fees
Hermitage commissioners introduced an ordinance Wednesday to increase sanitary user fees.
Residents tapped into the Hermitage Municipal Authority lines now pay $95 a quarter. That rate will bump up to $105 a quarter on Jan. 1, under the proposed rate hike.
Two more hikes on Jan. 1, 2012, and Jan. 1, 2013, will result in the rates increasing 50 percent from the current fee. -
Water is on at Forrest Brooke
Water service has been restored at Forrest Brooke Manufactured Home Community after well problems left the 165-unit complex dry Tuesday.
A boil and conserve water advisory has been issued by the DEP and will remain in place until tests confirm the water is safe to drink, Forrest Brooke’s manager Pete Havens said.
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Storm damages trees, wires
Thunderstorms ripped through parts of Mercer and neighboring counties Wednesday night, downing trees and wires and keeping rescue workers on their toes.
A Mercer County 911 dispatcher shortly after 8 p.m. said they were busy with calls across the northern part of the county. He said there had been a few reports of trees falling on homes.
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City leaders open to talks
Sharon officials aren’t opposed to sitting down with their counterparts in Farrell to revisit the idea of combining the two struggling cities.
“It never costs a penny to talk and there’s no (idea) that’s not worth looking at,” Sharon councilman Ed Palanski said. “I think it would be foolish to oppose looking at the idea.”
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Murphy’s Law doesn’t faze regional planners
A complicated, two-day public meeting blitz in 32 counties ran headlong into Murphy’s Law in Mercer County on Tuesday.
The group Power of 32 are looking to re-write the regional map and create a grand, 15-year strategic economic plan for the 32 counties in four states that make up the Ohio River basin and greater Pittsburgh area.
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Forrest Brooke copes with water outage
Residents of Forrest Brooke Mobile Home Community in Jefferson and Lackawannock Townships woke up Tuesday morning to find they didn’t have any water.
Managers of the park could not be reached for comment, but residents said they were told they won’t get water service back for at least another month.
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City facing bleak financial reality
LaVon Saternow has been Farrell’s city manager since 1992. Shortly after she took the job, Sharon Steel, the city’s economic engine, officially closed down.
Since, the city has struggled to remain solvent and Mrs. Saternow said it is facing its worst financial crisis in her tenure.
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Court nixes ruling man is sexually violent predator
