Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Law enforcement agencies thought that double murder suspect Cody Potthoff was at this Columbus Township back in June. While he wasn’t at that residence, he was captured in Warren County.

SKERDA UPHOLDS SANDUSKY SENTENCE

The Associated Press reported in January that Warren County President Judge Maureen Skerda to have his 30- to 60-year child molestation sentence reduced during a brief hearing Tuesday.

Presiding via teleconference from the Warren County courthouse, Judge Skerda said she purposely fashioned the prison term to have an impact on the former Penn State assistant football coach and noted Sandusky continues to maintain his innocence.

“This is repeated conduct over a course of years, and the court considered that,” Skerda said. Sandusky was convicted in 2012 of sexual abuse of 10 boys, ranging from grooming to sexual attacks.

During the November resentencing hearing, the attorney general’s office described problems that included disputes about returning a meal tray, resistance to being moved from his cell and complaints about phone calls.

Sandusky’s counsel told Skerda that she should consider his age and that older defendants are far less likely to commit new crimes.

But Skerda recalled that during the November sentencing — ordered by a state appeals court — Sandusky said he has spoken on the phone to his wife while an acquaintance was visiting Dottie Sandusky with an infant.

“So he would still have access to children if he were in the public in the future,” Skerda said. In November, she gave him the same sentence he had received following his 2012 jury trial.

TEACHER SENTENCED FOR DRUGS IN SCHOOL

A former Warren middle school teacher who took a backpack full of illegal drugs to work was sentenced on Friday to nearly five years in state prison back in April.

Matthew R. Kiser, Warren, was sentenced by President Judge Maureen Skerda.

At the time of his plea, Skerda asked Kiser if he admitted to particular actions: Possessing more than 70 grams of marijuana and 2.2 grams of methamphetamine “in your backpack at Beaty Middle School”… “entering Beaty Middle School with a backpack containing methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia throughout the month of April,” and that “police located a methamphetamine pipe in your desk drawer” at school; and, in another docket, “delivered methamphetamine to another person” while in a mental health unit.

In those and other specific examples, Kiser admitted to the actions.

Kiser’s attorney, Henry Borger, said on Friday in front of Skerda that Kiser “stands before you humbled…’

“It’s ironic and tragic that actually the addiction overtook him in his career,” Borger said. “There’s no excuse” for Kiser having the drugs in school, he continued, indicating that Kiser “took significant measures to try and ensure those drugs” couldn’t be accessed by students. “That potential exists there… (It is) only by the grace of God that didn’t happen here.”

“I’m not saying I’m not responsible,” Kiser said, regarding some of the conduct alleged, but did say that a “perfect storm occurred.”

“The court has heard enough to hold you accountable,” Skerda said. “By your own admission, (you) suffer from an addiction.”

She said the sentence she was imposing gives Kiser “ample time” if he is serious about his recovery.

ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE CHARGES PLED DOWN

A case that started out as an attempted homicide ended in July as a simple assault with a deadly weapon.

Samantha J. Daelhousen, 32, of Tidioute, was sentenced to seven months to two years minus one day in Warren County jail, with credit for 79 days served.

According to police, Daelhousen shot Matt Maloof, with who she’d had a“lengthy prior relationship,” three times Thursday, April 23, at her home.

The testimony indicated that Maloof was two to three feet outside the front door when he was shot.

“An individual has every right to defend themselves with a firearm if they reasonably feel their life is in danger,” District Attorney Rob Greene said. “But you cannot shoot your ex because you’re upset he won’t leave your home after drinking and playing cards together for three to four hours. Especially when he is outside, on the porch, and all you have to do is close the door.”

Warren County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Maureen Skerda referred to testimony that indicated

Maloof told Daelhousen she had “better make those shots count” when she brought out the gun.

“I recognize you feel you are a victim as well,” Skerda said. “You used force beyond what was necessary that night.”

JAMESTOWN MAN IMPERSONATES OFFICER

A Jamestown, N.Y., was charged back in June that he impersonated a sheriff’s deputy — and spun in the COVID-19 pandemic — in a ploy to get out of going to work.

Christopher M. Hawkins faces two misdemeanor counts — impersonating a public servant and disorderly conduct.

The office manager explained that someone called and identified themselves as “Detective Tommy Hatcher.”

The affidavit explains that the supposed detective reported to a receptionist that Hawkins’ wife “had just tested positive for COVID-19 and he needed to leave work to get tested and self-quarantine.”

The company then reached out to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office “and learned that there was no detective, deputy or employee with the name Tommy Hatcher” and identified Hawkins’ cell phone number as the same number “found on the caller ID on the day and time the incident occurred.”

DOUBLE-MURDER SUSPECT CAUGHT IN WARREN COUNTY IN JUNE

A man charged with multiple murders in Erie County as he allegedly fled to Warren County in stolen vehicles was in court Wednesday.

Cody J. Potthoff of Erie faces numerous felony charges.

Potthoff allegedly fled from police on Wednesday, June 17, in Edinboro.

According to police, Potthoff stole five vehicles and killed two men — Ian Welden, 41, of Corry, and John Burick, 66, of Harborcreek — during that flight.

Potthoff allegedly drove one of the vehicles into Warren County and stopped at a Columbus Township residence. Police, including a Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) surrounded the home and, hours later, fired tear gas into it. Potthoff was not inside.

He had allegedly stolen another vehicle from a Columbus Township residence.

Potthoff was captured in Warren County on Thursday, June 18. He waived his right to challenge extradition and was returned to Erie County to face prosecution.

DROWNING DEATH CHARGES FILED

Charges were filed in October in connection with an August drowning in Hatch Run that claimed the life of a 2-year-old child.

And one of the accused is the child’s mother.

Warren-based Pennsylvania State Police filed felony child endangerment charges against Nichol V. Barrett, identified as the deceased child’s mother, and her husband, Richard Duane Barrett.

The defendants, police state, “provided … a hand-written timeline” they “had put together from their cell phones and included what actions they took after determining the three children were not in the house or yard.”

“There is no physical way the children were able to get from the defendant’s residence barefoot — all three children were without shoes on — through the dry and wet creek bed with rough rocks, briers, limbs and such in/around the creek,” police state in the affidavit.

After the discussion about timelines and distance from the residence, police indicate in the affidavit several

statements Nichol Barrett made.

“I am admitting if that is what happened, I am at fault for it and I’m wrong for it.”

“I lost track of time and let my daughter go for 40 minutes, so ya, apparently, I’m bad. … I shouldn’t have been on my phone trying to get my daughter into school while my kids were outside. If they were gone for that long, it’s my bad and I apologize for it. I am going to be paying for it for the rest of my life.”

In December, Richard Barrett was charged with raping a child.

The alleged victim, who was less than 10 years old at the time of the alleged assaults, said Barrett had sexually assaulted her multiple times and in various ways, according to police. Court documents show an offense date of January 2019.

He is also listed on the Pennsylvania Sexual Offender Registry for a February 1996 conviction in Florida for sexual battery of a child.

METH RING BUSTED AT ‘THE FARM’

A total of 16 individuals — all facing potential life sentences — were indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with a methamphetamine operation at “The Farm” in Grand Valley.

Warren County law enforcement were instrumental in uncovering the operation, which Chief County Detective Brian Zeybel described as “run like a business.”

“The Farm” refers to the Grand Valley location at 530 Hunter School Rd. where this operation was headquartered.

Federal officials allege that Carina Tucker, Titusville, and Gail Flick, Garland, would drive to Akron, Ohio two to three times per week to pick up half a pound of methamphetamine. Zeybel said they would return through Erie and drop to Titusville — “they all called Titusville T-Vegas” — and the meth“spiderwebbed” through the area to the end user.

Calculations by the Task Force estimate each half-pound run equating to $2,400 in street value.

“From Akron to the final distribution on a small location or single house in Warren County, we could follow that trail,” Zeybel said. “That made that intelligence so valuable.”

“Agents put their lives at risk and busted their rears,” District Attorney Rob Greene said. “They should absolutely be commended for eliminating this scourge in Grand Valley.”

WARREN MAN SENTENCED FOR FORCING TWO TO HAVE SEX

The behavior of a Warren man sentenced in Warren County Court in December “shocks the conscience.”

Thomas G. Anthony Jr., 52, of Warren, entered a guilty plea on Aug. 31, to criminal solicitation – sexual assault, terroristic threats, and simple assault.

He was sentenced in the aggravated range Thursday by Common Pleas Court President Judge Maureen Skerda to a total of 65 to 144 months in state prison.

According to court documents, Anthony forced two people to have sex with one another while he watched by threatening them with and subjecting them to physical violence.

“This is one of the most disturbing cases I’ve ever heard of,” Warren County District Attorney Rob Greene said.

Green said both the victims used the term torture in describing Anthony’s behavior.

“She was under the control of a monster,” Greene said, referring to a victim impact statement.

“I’m so very sorry,” Anthony, who attended the proceeding virtually from Warren County Jail due to COVID-19 restrictions, said. “A lot of the things I heard during the victim impact statements were new to me. I don’t know where this is coming from.”

“If you think you’re the sacrificial lamb, the court doesn’t see it that way at all,” Skerda said.

“I am not a monster,” Anthony said, interrupting her.

“The facts and circumstances belie that,” Skerda said.