ODDS AND ENDS - 01/04/09

In addition to the pinhead painter who allegedly went off on a vandalism spree across the East End of West Chester, there were two other arraignments this morning in Honey Brook District Court.

A Coatesville man who failed to appear for a preliminary hearing this past Friday was taken into custody and arraigned this morning.

Jeremy Edward Leach, 19, of the 200 block of New Street, Coatesville, was arrested last night by Coatesville Police on the active warrant. Leach failed to appear for a preliminary hearing at 15-1-04 this past Friday on drug related charges.

On November 2, 2008 at around 00:55, Ofc. John DiBattista was on bike patrol on the 500 block of South Walnut Street when he came into contact with Leach. Leach was allegedly found to be in possession of four small knotted bags containing suspected marijuana. The field test came back with a presumptive positive result for marijuana, with final results from the Lima Labs pending.

Leach was cited and charged with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphanalia. He was arraigned this morning by Honey Brook District Judge Michael Cabry and committed to CCP in lieu of 10 percent of $2,500 bail; a prelim is scheduled for this Friday at Union Street (15-1-04, CR-0000377-08)…

A Honey Brook Township man faces assault charges after an alleged domestic assault at his residence.

At around 21:14 last night, Tpr. Andrew Brothers of the State Police Embreeville station responded to a residence on Hillview Road for a report of a domestic in progress. Upon arrival, the victim told Tpr. Brothers that her husband, Donald Gilbert Ely, 47, had engaged in a verbal argument which escalated after Ely allegedly flipped over the chair in which his wife was sitting in. As a result, the victim suffered injuries to her neck and her right wrist.

Ely was charged with Simple Assault and Harassment. He was arraigned by Judge Cabry this morning and committed to CCP in lieu of 10 percent of $2,500 bail; a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday in front of Judge Cabry (15-3-06, CR-0000003-09)…

The first apparent arrest of the new year took place during the early morning hours on New Year’s Day when Ofc. Greg Cugino arrested Anthony Winfield, 44, of the 200 block of West Washington Street on an active bench warrant. Winfield was driving on the 50 block of North Matlack Street at around 01:08 when he was pulled over. In a search incident to arrest, Winfield was alleged to have been found in possession of drug paraphanalia.

Charges are pending in district court…

A report of a domestic between two brothers landed one brother in trouble on drug charges.

At 01:57 on Saturday morning, Sgt. Marty Deighan responded to a residence on the 200 block of West Chestnut Street for a report of a domestic. Upon arrival, the report of the domestic was unfounded, however, Stephen McMillan was alleged to have been in possession of marijuana and drug paraphanalia. McMillan was processed and cited on Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Parpahanalia charges; a preliminary hearing is pending in Judge Bruno’s court (docket number pending)…

And finally, a man accused of assaulting his common law wife this past weekend was given a questionable break that would most like have not occurred had he been arraigned in the court where the alleged incident had occurred.

On December 27, 2008 at around 22:21, Ofc. Rey Melendez responded to an apartment on the 100 block of West Market Street for a report of a domestic assault. Upon arrival, the victim reported that her common-law husband, Luis Calvillo-Mejia, 33, had grabbed her and shoved her against the living room radiator after a verbal argument escalated. The victim, who was four months pregnant at the time, suffered minor injuries.

Calvillo-Mejia was charged with Simple Assault and Harassment. The following day, he was taken to Pottstown District Court in South Coventry where District Judge James D’Angelo released him on $5,000 unsecured bail. I can guarantee you that if Calvillo-Mejia was arraigned by Judge Bruno – who will be presiding over the preliminary hearing – Calvillo-Mejia would most likely be spending the balance of the holiday season at the Wawaset Hilton (aka Chester County Prison).

In any event, a preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday in front of Judge Bruno (15-1-01, CR-0000361-08).

Perhaps someone should remind certain judges in this county that Bail Agency recommendations are just that – recommendations. How someone accused of a domestic assault can be released on unsecured bail is mind boggling. Perhaps D’Angelo should’ve put a bullseye on the back of the victim while he was at it.

Plus, how much is one willing to suggest that Calvillo-Mejia’s immigration status is questionable, at best?