New county detective continues family legacy
Robert Balchunis has been assigned to Major Case Squad
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Chester County Detective Robert Balchunis, the latest addition to the investigative arm of the District Attorney’s Office, began his new post this week, said District Attorney Tom Hogan.
A respected police officer who may be genetically predisposed to investigative work has joined the Chester...
D.A. calls East Fallowfield murder ‘an execution’
Defendant’s Facebook boast indicates he planned girlfriend’s shooting
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Authorities said Jamica Woods, 37, of East Fallowfield Township, was fatally shot Tuesday by Gregory A. Twyman, 44, her longtime boyfriend.
The homicide on Tuesday in East Fallowfield Township is being called “an execution” by Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan.
Hogan...
Raising awareness about regional heroin abuse
Brainstorming session attracts government officials, concerned citizens
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Andy Rumford (center) discusses the heroin problem with New Garden Township Police Chief Gerald Simpson (left) and Kennett Square Police Chief Edward A. Zunino.
Think your child is too smart, athletic, or well-adjusted to become addicted to heroin? That’s a dangerously inaccurate...
Mock crash: sobering reality check for teens
D.A. wishes every high school would present similar program
By Kathleen Brady, Managing Editor, The Times
As the Rustin High student body watches, first-responders work to extricate the students trapped in the vehicle during the mock crash exercise.
The two blood-splattered Bayard Rustin High student drivers managed to crawl from the wreckage of their two-car crash behind the school, but several...
License-center supervisor gets state prison term
Judge imposed sentence of 24 to 69 months
Ali was sentenced to a prison term of 24 to 69 months.
A Philadelphia man found guilty of fraudulently issuing driver’s licenses at a Chester County Drivers’ License Center received a state prison sentence of 24 to 49 months on Monday.
Chester County Court Senior Judge Thomas G. Gavin imposed the penalty on Khalif Abdullah Ali, 44, a supervisor at the license...
Supervisor at driver’s license center convicted
Jury said he issued licenses to known criminals, using other people’s data
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Khalif Abdullah Ali was convicted by a Chester County jury of identity theft, tampering with public records, and related offenses.
A Philadelphia man accused of fraudulently issuing driver’s licenses at a Chester County Drivers’ License Center was convicted Wednesday.
A...
Police officer charged with wife’s assault in Pocopson
Judge hikes bail after defendant fails to turn in weapons and confronts victim
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Ernest Manerchia, a Chester City police officer, is accused of aggravated assault, stemming from a domestic dispute on Nov. 11.
A Pocopson Township man, who works as a City of Chester police officer and a member of its SWAT team, faces charges that include aggravated assault,...
D.A. adds 2 respected law-enforcers to detectives
The pair will fill vacancies created by recent retirements
Thomas J. Goggin, a veteran member of the Phoenixville Police Department, will bring his expertise to the county detectives.
Two respected county law-enforcers were sworn in Monday as Chester County detectives, District Attorney Tom Hogan announced.
James F. Ciliberto, a longtime state trooper, and Thomas J. Goggin, a veteran of the Phoenixville...
Inaugural Veterans Court graduation draws crowd
‘It saved my life,’ a graduate of the new diversionary program said
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
State Supreme Court Justice Seamus P. McCaffery, (left) who served in the Marines and Air Force, and lawyer James E. McErlane, a Navy veteran, chat with officials after the program.
The Vietnam veteran warned the audience in advance that he wasn’t “an elegant speaker,”...
Police: Exton shop owner sold dangerous synthetic drugs
53-year-old Downingtown man faces multiple felony charges, D.A. said
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Jeffrey MacDonald faces multiple charges for the alleged sales of synthetic drugs.
A month after police seized over 1,000 doses of alleged synthetic drugs during the execution of a search warrant at JM Cigars in Exton, the District Attorney’s Office announced the arrest of the...
