Schuylkill County Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin awarded a former Nativity BVM student $751,000 for sexual assault committed by former coach Daniel M. Shields Jr.
Shields was the track coach for BVM when the assaults occurred. Daniel Shields is currently serving 18 months to 4 years in a state correctional facility. After his release Daniel Shields will have to register as a sexual predator.
In one strange incident,the victime said Shields sent her a Christmas card last year.
An out of court settlement did occur with Nativity BVM High School, where Shields was a coach; the Diocese of Allentown, which operates the school; and the Most Rev. Edward P. Cullen, bishop of Allentown — all had been dismissed from the case earlier this year after a settlement that is confidential at the victim’s request,
Friday, October 10, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Magistrate Reiley is the talk of the town or at least the Purple Page
District Magistrate Reiley is the talk of the Purple Page. His sentence has been viewed as both fair and also not hard enough for a public servant or Magistrate.
Otherwise, the big topic is gas prices. Hurricane Ike has come and gone and people are wondering why gas prices continue to rise. I guess we will have to hope Jack Rich has a warmn heart as Christmas will soon be here.
Otherwise, the big topic is gas prices. Hurricane Ike has come and gone and people are wondering why gas prices continue to rise. I guess we will have to hope Jack Rich has a warmn heart as Christmas will soon be here.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Magistrate Reiley Sentence in DUI Case
Pottsville magisterial district judge James Reiley accused of driving under the influence will be in a probationary program for 12 months. The Republican Herald reports Schuylkill County President Judge William Baldwin admitted James Reiley into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program Thursday afternoon. If Reiley completes the program successfully, the charges will be dismissed.
Reiley was charged in June with two counts of DUI.
Many comments have been posted over at the Purple Page.
Reiley was charged in June with two counts of DUI.
Many comments have been posted over at the Purple Page.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Back to the old site I guess
The Purple Page is only currently available at http://www.members.boardhost.com/purplepage/ .
Also the board is pretty short and only holds 200 messages at this time. It would be great if users would support the board at little more through the adverts. I am sure the site would have more message capability.
Also the board is pretty short and only holds 200 messages at this time. It would be great if users would support the board at little more through the adverts. I am sure the site would have more message capability.
Sexual Harassment Schuylkill County Courthouse
It has been rumored that an employee at the Schuylkill County courthouse may file a sexual harassment suit against anothe employee at the court house. The victim supposedly has retained an attorney from out of the area.
More news to follow
More news to follow
Friday, September 28, 2007
Man sentenced for Minersville church vandalism
Kevin A. Smith Jr. apologized Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court for vandalizing Minersville's Church of Broken Pieces in February, but still received a prison sentence and extended probation.
"I thought it would be funny," Smith, 18, of Schuylkill Haven, told Judge Jacqueline L. Russell. "I really don't know why I did it."
What he admitted doing was spray-painting the 41 N. Front St. church, which has a primarily African-American congregation, with racist and satanic graffiti, including a swastika and a pentagram, on Feb. 21.
"I'm not really a racist," said Smith, who pleaded guilty Aug. 21 to ethnic intimidation, conspiracy, institutional vandalism, corruption of minors, desecration of venerated objects, criminal mischief and harassment.
What he received for it from Russell was a prison sentence of three to 23 months, plus an additional three years probation, payment of costs, $200 in fines and $300 restitution to the church, 80 hours community service, submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities and mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations.
"I hope you are successful with any kind of treatment you might need," Russell said. "I hope your life starts to turn around."
What he left behind was a horrified congregation that its pastor said still wants to put the incident behind it.
"We are a product of the '60s. It brought back such horrible memories," said the Rev. Gloria Alexander, one of the church's two pastors. "Everyone came together to pray for healing."
Alexander, whose husband, the Rev. Harold, also is a pastor at the church, balanced the sadness she felt and the desire to forgive Smith, and indicated she was satisfied with the sentence.
"The people that I counsel and the young people that came together just find it so hard to understand," she testified. "As a mother, you wish you could protect them. You wish you could spare the young people."
Minersville citizens also rallied to support the church, which Gloria Alexander said has a congregation that is 65 percent African-American. Three days after the incident, 70 volunteers, including 55 Minersville Area High School students, turned out in bitterly cold weather to help remove the graffiti.
"One of the greatest things out of it ... was the students from Minersville," Gloria Alexander said.
Before being sentenced, Smith told Russell he has limited contact with his mother, is not certain where is father is and has a troubled past.
"I started (using drugs) when I was 14," he said. "I was intoxicated when I was brought to the prison. The last time I actually went to church was with my aunt when I was 6 years old."
Russell found the last statement particularly important.
"Perhaps you don't understand how upsetting it is for a group of parishioners to go to their house of worship and see it defiled," the judge told Smith.
Minersville police had charged Smith and a 16-year-old boy with defacing the building, which is the former St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Prosecutors dropped a disorderly conduct charge.
Assistant District Attorney William C. Reiley and Assistant Public Defender Andrea L. Thompson, Smith's attorney, each said afterwards the sentence reflected a proper result.
"I think the church detects a true sense of contrition by the young defendant, who not only learned for himself, but through coverage of the event, hopefully has taught others the effects of misguided attempts at a prank that has such serious consequences," Reiley said.
"I do think he's truly remorseful. I think he learned more from the church's forgiveness than anything else," Thompson said.
Gloria Alexander also told Smith outside the courtroom how much she wants him to learn from the incident.
"I will pray for you that you will get your life together and you will succeed," she said.
"I thought it would be funny," Smith, 18, of Schuylkill Haven, told Judge Jacqueline L. Russell. "I really don't know why I did it."
What he admitted doing was spray-painting the 41 N. Front St. church, which has a primarily African-American congregation, with racist and satanic graffiti, including a swastika and a pentagram, on Feb. 21.
"I'm not really a racist," said Smith, who pleaded guilty Aug. 21 to ethnic intimidation, conspiracy, institutional vandalism, corruption of minors, desecration of venerated objects, criminal mischief and harassment.
What he received for it from Russell was a prison sentence of three to 23 months, plus an additional three years probation, payment of costs, $200 in fines and $300 restitution to the church, 80 hours community service, submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities and mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations.
"I hope you are successful with any kind of treatment you might need," Russell said. "I hope your life starts to turn around."
What he left behind was a horrified congregation that its pastor said still wants to put the incident behind it.
"We are a product of the '60s. It brought back such horrible memories," said the Rev. Gloria Alexander, one of the church's two pastors. "Everyone came together to pray for healing."
Alexander, whose husband, the Rev. Harold, also is a pastor at the church, balanced the sadness she felt and the desire to forgive Smith, and indicated she was satisfied with the sentence.
"The people that I counsel and the young people that came together just find it so hard to understand," she testified. "As a mother, you wish you could protect them. You wish you could spare the young people."
Minersville citizens also rallied to support the church, which Gloria Alexander said has a congregation that is 65 percent African-American. Three days after the incident, 70 volunteers, including 55 Minersville Area High School students, turned out in bitterly cold weather to help remove the graffiti.
"One of the greatest things out of it ... was the students from Minersville," Gloria Alexander said.
Before being sentenced, Smith told Russell he has limited contact with his mother, is not certain where is father is and has a troubled past.
"I started (using drugs) when I was 14," he said. "I was intoxicated when I was brought to the prison. The last time I actually went to church was with my aunt when I was 6 years old."
Russell found the last statement particularly important.
"Perhaps you don't understand how upsetting it is for a group of parishioners to go to their house of worship and see it defiled," the judge told Smith.
Minersville police had charged Smith and a 16-year-old boy with defacing the building, which is the former St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Prosecutors dropped a disorderly conduct charge.
Assistant District Attorney William C. Reiley and Assistant Public Defender Andrea L. Thompson, Smith's attorney, each said afterwards the sentence reflected a proper result.
"I think the church detects a true sense of contrition by the young defendant, who not only learned for himself, but through coverage of the event, hopefully has taught others the effects of misguided attempts at a prank that has such serious consequences," Reiley said.
"I do think he's truly remorseful. I think he learned more from the church's forgiveness than anything else," Thompson said.
Gloria Alexander also told Smith outside the courtroom how much she wants him to learn from the incident.
"I will pray for you that you will get your life together and you will succeed," she said.
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