KENNETH GARDNER
A motions hearing is scheduled today on a writ of habeas corpus filed by the attorney for a White Township man who pleaded no contest in 2011 to indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age.
In exchange for his guilty plea, three counts of aggravated indecent assault and another count of indecent assault against 58-year-old Kenneth Gardner were not prosecuted. Judge Gregory Olson sentenced Gardner to two years of probation and a fine, and he was required to register his address with state police for ten years. His probation was revoked in 2015 and his attorney filed the writ of habeas corpus to challenge the conviction in January
MASON JACKSON
Another motions hearing is scheduled for a Beaver County man who is awaiting trial for his alleged part in the armed robbery and assault of two other men at an apartment on South 8th Street in Indiana in October 2015. 21-year-old Mason Jackson of New Brighton is accused of being one of three men who took part in the robbery. The victims reported that all three of the robbers had guns and all three pistol whipped them with the butts of the guns. Spencer Bacon of Beaver Falls has already been sentenced to one to three years in prison plus three years probation. Jackson has filed omnibus pretrial motions in advance of the trial, including a challenge to his identification as one of the suspects. One of the victims chose him from a social media photo showing Spencer Bacon with a group of friends.
Jackson is charged with robbery, aggravated assault, and theft.
RICHARD ERNEST PYLE
There is a rescheduled motions hearing today for 24-year-old Richard Ernest Pyle of Shelocta, who has filed a motion to suppress evidence in a DUI case in which he is charged with 16 offenses, including fleeing or eluding police and recklessly endangering another person.
Indiana Borough police attempted to pull over Pyle on July 11th in the 400 block of Chestnut Street. He did eventually stop, but tried to flee on foot. Police said at the time that he was under the influence of both heroin and alcohol, and he had heroin and paraphernalia on him. Just as when the case was continued last month, Pyle is scheduled for plea and sentencing later this month, but that could be affected by his motions hearing today.
KATHERINE BETSA
Finally, a motions hearing is scheduled for 29-year-old Katherine Betsa of Blairsville in a DUI case. IUP police charged Betsa with DUI controlled substance, possession, and two traffic offenses last September after pulling her over for driving erratically at Rose Street and Wayne Avenue. Several pills were found in the vehicle, she failed her field sobriety tests, and her blood test came back positive for clonazepam and morphine. Her attorney has filed a motion to suppress evidence.
