Men sentenced for restraining women
One man held a knife to a woman's throat in Sharpsville.
MERCER, Pa. -- One man received a prison term and one was placed on probation Wednesday in Mercer County Common Pleas Court for restraining women against their will in unrelated situations.
Judge Thomas Dobson sentenced Davon Leak, 29, of Second Avenue, Sharon, to three to 15 months in prison and gave him credit for 32 days already served for simple assault, a misdemeanor.
Court documents state that on Aug. 1, 2004, Leak held a woman in a room at an East Shenango Street, Sharpsville residence. He held a knife to her throat, covered her face with a pillow, and shoved his fingers down her throat to prevent her from yelling.
Varick Wel Vanistendael, 29, of William Flynn Highway, Slippery Rock, was placed on two and a half years' probation for harassment, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass, all misdemeanors.
According to court documents, he entered an apartment on South Center Street, Grove City, by force and would not let a woman there leave the residence.
He then threatened to call the woman's probation officer and report that she had violated her probation if she reported the situation to the police.
He was ordered to pay restitution for a broken window.
Other sentencings
Several others also were sentenced Wednesday.
U William Bowser, 34, of the State Correctional Institute in LaBelle, Pa., was placed on two years' probation for felony retail theft. It was ordered served consecutive to the sentence he is already serving. On Jan. 18, 2000, he stole $1,098 worth of merchandise including a computer, a monitor and video game equipment from Wal-Mart, state Route 58, Pine Township. The offense is a felony because it is the third or subsequent. Bowser was given credit for 33 days already served.
U Michelle Cox, 26, of Southington, Ohio, was sentenced to nine to 23 months in the State Correctional Institute for criminal conspiracy to forgery, a misdemeanor. She also was ordered to make restitution. According to court documents, she conspired with two other women in August, 2004, to steal a checkbook from a Farrell residence, then used the stolen checks to buy gasoline and other items.
U John Cullen, 39, of Donation Road, Greenville, was placed on one year's probation for defiant trespass, a misdemeanor. On Oct. 21, 2004, according to court documents, he would not leave a residence at Shenango Park Apartments on Parke Drive, Hermitage.
UEdward Patterson, address given as the Lawrence County Jail, was sentenced to six to 24 months in prison for felony criminal trespass. The term was ordered served consecutive to his current term. He was given credit for 107 days served. Court documents state that on Aug. 18, 2004, Patterson broke into a building at 819 Market Ave., Farrell.
U Robert Spruill, 43, of Hamilton Avenue, Farrell, was placed on 18 months' probation for felony retail theft. On Aug. 30, 2004, he stole $29 worth of health and beauty items from Big Lots, 2301 E. State St., Hermitage. The offense is a felony because it is the third or subsequent.
U Mark Trulson, 27, of Stewart Avenue, Greenville, was placed on 24 months' probation for misdemeanor retail theft and ordered to make restitution. On July 30, 2004, according to court documents, he conspired with another man to steal two push mowers valued at $564 from Wal-Mart, 3300 Shenango Valley Freeway, Hermitage.