SMETHPORT — A former school van driver pleaded guilty to charges of corruption of minors, a first-degree misdemeanor, Thursday during McKean County Court.
McKean County President Judge John Pavlock said charges of harassment and indecent assault were dismissed against Carl A. Wilson, 65, of Kane, who will be sentenced Dec. 13.
According to the criminal complaint, Wilson, who had been a school van driver at the time of the incident, had approached a 13-year old girl on March 19 in Mount Jewett, grabbed her around the waist, hugged her and kissed her on the lips. The incident frightened the girl, who walked away quickly from the area and stayed away from the bus stop area to avoid Wilson.
Also scheduled for sentencing, this time for Nov. 29, was Gary A. Simes, 35, of Rixford, who pleaded guilty to DUI, fleeing and eluding police, resisting arrest, reckless driving and driving while operating privileges were suspended, stemming from an incident on April 28.
Court documents state that while driving his van in Bradford, Simes was motioned to stop by Bradford City Police after suspected violations, but did not stop during a lengthy pursuit. Court documents said that as the van slowed down near an intersection, a female jumped out of the open passenger door. The van then pulled a short distance further and stopped, but when officers got out of their cars to approach the van, Simes drove away. Court records stated that officers continued to pursue the van, which drove toward a patrol car, causing one of the officers to make evasive maneuvers to avoid being struck on two separate occasions. The chase continued south on South Kendall Avenue to Looker Mountain Trail and ended when Simes’s vehicle went out of control, traveled off the road and became airborne, coming to rest about 75 yards away from the road. Simes, whose operating privileges were suspended, admitted to trying to kick the officers during his apprehension.
Cheyenne E. Smith, 28, of Smethport, pleaded guilty to resisting arrest, and will be sentenced Dec. 13. Other charges of aggravated assault and simple assault were dismissed.
According to court documents, on Aug. 4, Smith tried to prevent a Pennsylvania State Trooper from arresting her after he had responded to a domestic incident at her home. During the incident, Smith admitted to punching the trooper and ripping his tie off.
Daniel S. Lieberman, 33, of Coudersport, pleaded guilty to violation of the drug act and a summary, and was released immediately on nine months probation, after serving 57 days.
The following people were granted admission into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for DUI: Randall L. Cranmer, 48, of Great Valley, N.Y.; Shelby A. Dates, 23, Port Allegany; Nikita Willover, 25, Port Allegany; Michael A. Wilmoth, 58, Bradford; Jacqueline R. Bedford, 23, Kane; and Seth D. Craft, 23, Utica.
