Court cases
WAYNESBURG – A number of criminal defendants were admitted to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program Tuesday by Greene County Court.
Those accepted into the program for first-time offenders must serve one year of probation and pay all fines and costs. Defendants who enter the program charged with driving under the influence of alcohol also may have their driving privileges suspended.
Those who successfully complete the program can petition the court to have their criminal records expunged.
Entered into the program were:
Joshua Barry Haywood, 23, of 205 Havers Hill Road, Jefferson, charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and two summary traffic violations; arrested Sept. 21, Haywood had a blood-alcohol content of 0.165 percent. He received a 60-day license suspension.
Jody Lynn Sweeney, 52, of 129 Pine Bank Road, New Freeport, charged with DUI and a summary traffic violation. Following a single-vehicle crash March 10, 2012, Sweeney was found to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He received a 60-day license suspension and must pay $14,020 to Norfork Southern for damage to a crossing signal.
Thomas Bruce Griffith, 64, of 102 Trotwood Drive, Canonsburg; DUI, fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest and nine summary traffic violations; on July 30, Griffith failed to stop for police on Interstate 79 and drove his vehicle into a police car; he told police he had been drinking and took two sleeping pills; he received a 60-day license suspension and must pay $2,787 in restitution to state police.
Melissa K. Garcia, 34, of Route 21 Mobile Home Park, Carmichaels, charged with violating the public welfare code for collecting $4,208 in benefits between Dec. 1, 2010, and July 31, 2011, while providing false information in regard to her residence, household members and household income. She was entered into the program for six months.
Roger Lee Ball III, 25, of 358 S. Richhill St., Waynesburg, charged with theft; while employed by Monroe Muffler between July 1, 2008, and Sept. 28, 2010, he stole money by keeping cash paid by cash-paying customers and voiding the invoices. He was ordered to pay $1,707 in restitution.
Stephen Joseph Bonacci, 52, of 119 General Braddock Road, North Braddock, charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness; Bonacci caused a disturbance when police were attempting to arrest another man June 8 at the High Point Raceway campgrounds.
Ronald H. Gray, 35, of 3079 Old McClellandtown Road, McClellandtown, charged with DUI and three summary violations; arrested Jan. 6, Gray had a BAC of 0.145 percent. He received a 30-day license suspension.
Jeremiah James Davis, 19, of 240 E. South St., Waynesburg, charged with DUI and five summary violations; arrested Nov. 21, Davis had a BAC of 0.119 percent. He received a 90-day license suspension.
Barry Loren Watson, 48, of 26 Rinehart Lane, Waynesburg, charged with two counts each of endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of minors, recklessly endangering another person and selling or furnishing liquor, malt or brewed beverages to a minor; between Jan. 1 and Sept. 9, 2012, Watson shared prescription drugs, including Vicodin and Percocet, and alcohol with two minors. He was entered into the program for two years.
Bruce Alan Bundy Jr., 25, of 51 Meadowbrook Acres, Parkersburg, W.Va., charged with forgery and theft for stealing a check from his employer, John R. Hughes Construction, forging the check and cashing it for $600 on March 30, 2012.