Mercer County judge sentences three for thefts

MERCER, Pa. -- A Mercer man has received 18 months' probation for snatching a purse and punching the victim.
Nikolaus Beers, 23, of Home Street had pleaded guilty to simple assault and theft by unlawful taking, both misdemeanors, for taking a woman's purse and hitting her in the vicinity of East Market and Cherry Streets on Aug. 13, 2002.
Judge Thomas Dobson of Mercer County Common Pleas Court doled out the sentence late last week.
Judge Dobson also ordered Cori Murphy, 33, of Federal Street, Farrell, to serve one year in the Intermediate Punishment Program, perform 200 hours' community service, and make $593 restitution to Wal-Mart in Hermitage on a charge of theft by deception, a misdemeanor.
Court documents say she created a false impression at the store last June that she had a valid gift card worth $593.
The judge placed Natalie Russo, 24, of Ann Street, Niles, on 15 months' probation for criminal conspiracy to retail theft, a misdemeanor. Last November, she took five video games or DVDs from Wal-Mart in Hermitage, court records say.