Centre Daily Times Logo

Preliminary hearings heard in Centre County Courthouse | Centre Daily Times

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Contact Us
    • Plus
    • eEdition
    • Newsletters
    • Subscribe
    • About Us
    • Local
    • Penn State
    • Sandusky Scandal
    • Communities
    • Crime
    • Business
    • Education
    • Politics
    • Public Records
    • State
    • Nation/World
    • Weird News
    • Sports
    • College
    • Golf
    • High School
    • MLB
    • Motorsports
    • NFL
    • NHL
    • Outdoors
    • Penn State
    • State College Spikes
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • PSU Sports
    • PSU Football
    • PSU Basketball
    • PSU Baseball
    • PSU Hockey
    • PSU Soccer
    • PSU Volleyball
    • PSU Wrestling
    • Nittany Lines Blog
  • Penn State Football
    • Living
    • Announcements
    • Family Pages
    • Eat, Play, Live
    • Home & Garden
    • Entertainment
    • Weekender
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Celebrities
    • Horoscopes
    • Movie News & Reviews
    • Music
    • TV
    • Opinion
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Submit a Letter
  • Obituaries

  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

Crime

Preliminary hearings heard in Centre County Courthouse

By Jeremy Hartley

jhartley@centredaily.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

January 04, 2017 05:19 PM

The CDT previously reported on the following individuals who were slated for preliminary hearings Wednesday at the Centre County Courthouse. District Justice Carmine Prestia presided over the hearings.

▪ Kenya Britt, 46, of State College, was charged with felony theft on Dec. 23 after reportedly attempting to take beauty products from the Northland Center Giant. Two prior retail theft offenses resulted in the felony charge.

She waived her right to a hearing. The case moves toward trial.

▪ Jeremy Vasas, 37, of Tyrone, was charged with a felony count of forgery and misdemeanor counts of license violations, unsworn falsification to authorities, false identification and driving under the influence after a Christmas Eve traffic stop in the State College Borough. Vasas reportedly provided police with a false driver’s license.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Centre Daily Times

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

He waived his right to a hearing. The case moves toward trial.

▪ James Minarchick, 33, of Philipsburg, was charged with a misdemeanor count of simple assault and a summary charge of harassment after a Christmas Eve arrest. He was accused of attacking a woman at his residence after an altercation.

He waived his right to a hearing. The case moves toward trial.

▪ Lawrence Stamps, 45, of Spring Mills, was charged Christmas day with a misdemeanor count of simple assault and summary charges of harassment, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. Stamps had allegedly been in an argument with a woman when he tackled her to the ground.

He waived his right to a hearing. The case moves toward trial.

▪ Steven Willits, 46, of Bellefonte, was charged Friday with a felony count of strangulation, a misdemeanor charge of simple assault and a summary count of harassment after an argument with his wife reportedly turned physical.

The wife testified during the preliminary hearing Wednesday that Willits had been drinking before she arrived home from work that evening and a fight ensued. After threatening to cancel a house purchase with him, she claimed he pushed her down to the ground and choked her with one hand while hitting her with her cell phone with the other hand.

After telling him she would not leave him so he would get off of her, she testified she fled and called the police.

Willits was bound over on all charges. The case moves toward trial.

All individuals arrested are provided the right to a preliminary hearing after they are arraigned by a district judge. The next stage in the case is a pretrial conference, where the person may plead guilty or not guilty, before the case moves to sentencing or a formal trial.

Jeremy Hartley: 814-231-4616, @JJHartleyNews

  Comments  

Videos

A timeline of the Thursday night shooting that left 4 dead

Public should have been notified sooner after shootings were over, State College police chief says

View More Video

Trending Stories

Former 5-star wide receiver George Campbell transfers to Penn State

February 20, 2019 02:53 PM

Penn State wrestling no longer the unanimous NWCA No. 1 after a big win for the Cowboys

February 19, 2019 06:44 PM

Centre County to be hit with another ‘wintry mix.’ Here’s what it could mean for your commute

February 19, 2019 12:26 PM

Here’s what’s closed Wednesday as Centre County gets hit with more winter weather

February 20, 2019 05:40 AM

Penn State student accused of causing crash that killed a Bellefonte man bound over for trial

February 20, 2019 03:37 PM

things to do

Read Next

Jury returns verdict in child rape trial for Mifflin County man
Video media Created with Sketch.

Crime

Jury returns verdict in child rape trial for Mifflin County man

By Bret Pallotto

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 15, 2019 01:36 PM

Matthew Sheffer, of Port Royal, Mifflin County, was found guilty of all charges, including child rape. State police at Rockview accused Sheffer of molesting an 11-year-old girl while her mother was at work and away from their Millheim residence.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Centre Daily Times

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE CRIME

39-year-old Benner state prison inmate dies

Crime

39-year-old Benner state prison inmate dies

February 13, 2019 01:05 PM

Penn State

Four months after helicopter debacle at Penn State tailgate, 4 students have been charged

February 07, 2019 12:49 PM
Penn State student charged with homicide by vehicle in crash that killed a Bellefonte man

State College

Penn State student charged with homicide by vehicle in crash that killed a Bellefonte man

February 06, 2019 01:07 PM
Investigation at State College hotel leads to prostitution charges against 2 women

Crime

Investigation at State College hotel leads to prostitution charges against 2 women

February 01, 2019 02:27 PM
Parents sue 28 former Penn State frat brothers as 2-year anniversary of son’s death nears

Crime

Parents sue 28 former Penn State frat brothers as 2-year anniversary of son’s death nears

February 01, 2019 03:10 PM
Police confirm potential involvement of Penn State athletes in fraternity assault

Crime

Police confirm potential involvement of Penn State athletes in fraternity assault

January 31, 2019 03:16 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Centre Daily Times App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Photo Store
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • Place an Obituary
  • Today's Circulars
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story