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Court takes preliminary actions on gun charges
Staff writer
Four people picked up last week in a special patrol by state police were scheduled for preliminary hearings Thursday.
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Concerned with an increasing number of incidents involving guns in the Washington area, state police were joined in the special patrols last week by local police, liquor control enforcement and adult probation agents. Seized were three handguns along with suspected crack, heroin and marijuana.
Douglas Yondale Cochran, 30, of 22 E. Prospect St., Washington, failed to show for his scheduled hearing Thursday morning before Senior District Judge Marjorie Teagarden. He was arrested Aug. 27 behind the wheel of a car that had been reported stolen by Budget Rental Car to South Strabane Township Police.
He was released from Washington County Jail hours after his arrest after posting $10,000 bond.
"Everyone is here but the defendant," Teagarden said in opening the hearing. "He should've been here. Shame on him."
State police Cpl. Christopher Neal, who filed the charges, told Teagarden that Cochran had suspected cocaine and marijuana packaged for delivery. He said the suspect, who is on federal parole after serving time on drug and escape charges, is known to Neal.
Teagarden ordered him held on charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver crack, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property. Common pleas court officials will be notified of his failure to appear. His bond is likely to be revoked and a warrant issued for his arrest.
Andre Vermar Walker, 23, and Crystal Rae Valperga, 22, were scheduled for hearings before District Judge David Mark after they were arrested inside Billy's Bar on Jefferson Avenue in Canton Township last week with guns. Walker had a .44-caliber Magnum revolver while Valperga had a .32-caliber pistol.
The two are suspects in an exchange of gunfire Aug. 12 at Terry's Lounge, 108 W. Wylie Ave., Canton Township. Cochran was injured in the shooting along with Marcus Lee Walker of Carnegie.
Walker asked for a continuance because his defense attorney was not able to come to Thursday's proceeding. His hearing has been rescheduled for Sept. 19.
Valperga, who is charged with intent to deliver cocaine, conspiracy to deliver cocaine, carrying a firearm without a license, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, waived her case to court.
Valperga also was arraigned before Mark Thursday on charges of hindering apprehension and corruption of minors. She is accused of lending her vehicle to a 17-year-old girl who was behind the wheel in an Oct. 6 fatal crash that killed 14-year-old Versaan Crawford on Interstate 70, Canton Township.
Valperga tearfully begged Mark to reduce her bond so she could get out of Washington County Jail. He reduced her $50,000 bond on the drug charge to 10 percent acceptable and set $10,000 on the new charges.
Her mother told Mark that her daughter has serious medical needs. Mark advised her to show proof of her daughter's condition to the jail and the courts may revisit the bond issue.
Also appearing before Teagarden was Steven Sadler, 19, of 235 W. Chestnut St., Washington. Sadler, who was charged with carrying a firearm without a license and possession of controlled substance, was caught Aug. 27 after running from police who had a received a tip he was armed. Police confiscated a .38-caliber handgun.
: 9/5/2008
Get complete facts - Valperga doesnt own a car
: 9/5/2008
why would they single her out if she didnt. i believe she did. thats a shame.
: 9/5/2008
Can't answer that - but it states she lended her car. She doesnt have or own a car......confused
Gun Charges : 9/5/2008
No wonder Yondale didn't show up for his hearing the guy is probably still recovering from being shot!
Dale : 9/5/2008
if it wasnt for everyone out here snitchin' he wouldnt even be in this bullshit all over again! let him live his life-damn he has kids!!!
GREAT EXAMPLE : 9/5/2008
TO HIS KIDS, FATHER OF THE YEAR. THEY'RE BETTER OFF WITHOUT HIM!
Dave : 9/5/2008
"if it wasnt for everyone out here snitchin' he wouldnt even be in this bullshit all over again! let him live his life-damn he has kids" Let him live his life??? The guy was arrested driving a stolen car, with crack and pot packaged for sale, and didnt bother showing up for his hearing. He's the kind of person that is everybody's business, and needs to be removed from society. If he got shot while resisting arrest, it's a shame he didnt get a fatal wound. And anyone who supports or defends a guy like that should be hunted down by the police and shot down as well. The rest of us have a right to be left along by criminals, and the only way that can be accomplished is by their elimination.
VALPERGA : 9/6/2008
Well someone needs to be held responsible for Versaan Crawford's untimely death.Whoever was involved in in this loss a very good,fine young man needs to be punished.He is so very sadly missed by all his loved ones.
White kids dont carry guns?? : 9/6/2008
What white kids dont carry guns? Why are blacks the only ones targeted? Oh thats right it is white right to bare arms and nobody elses. look at the cases that whites are involved in with guns and then compare it to the black cases with guns and you tell me why blacks get alot of jail time compared to the whites getting probation or nothing.
