Niagara Gazette

COURTS: Attorney for accused NU player looks for quick resolution of case
The lawyer for a Niagara University basketball player charged in a “ruckus” with Falls cops says the incident was a “misunderstanding.”
NIAGARA FALLS: Settlement pending in Falls six case
A high-profile racial discrimination case in the City of Niagara Falls could end in settlement next week.
Mayor Paul Dyster’s administration will ask council members on Monday to accept a $240,000 settlement with the group of city employees commonly known as the Niagara Falls Six.
COURTS: Eva Hedges pleads guilty to housing violation
The City Housing Court case of a Falls woman accused of running an illegal bed and breakfast at her Fourth Street home has been settled.
Eva Hedges’ defense attorney George V.C. Muscato said Thursday his client has corrected building code violations at her property and all the charges against her have been resolved.
COURTS: Prosecutors still want DNA from Carter
Prosecutors have renewed a request for a DNA sample from accused killer Darnell Carter.
At the same time, a complicated series of pretrial hearings has apparently derailed plans for jury selection in the case to begin on Nov. 30.
LOCKPORT: State official says McKinney violated terms of release
Paroled sex offender James McKinney violated a half dozen terms of his controversial release last spring, according to Assistant state Attorney General Wendy Witing.
ANELLO CASE: Feds oppose defense team's appeal
Federal prosecutors are asking a U.S. District Court judge to reject an appeal by former Falls Mayor Vince Anello looking to overturn recommendations from a magistrate judge.
In a filing with Judge William Skretny, Assistant United State Attorney Paul Campana argues the recommendations made by Magistrate Judge Jeremiah McCarthy should “be adopted.”
COURTS: City attorneys respond to suit filed by Matteo Anello
City lawyers say a federal lawsuit filed by the brother of former Mayor Vince Anello is “frivolous.”
They also say, in a filing in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, that Matteo Anello failed to file his suit within time limits required by law and any injuries he suffered while being arrested during an incident at a City Council meeting were his own fault.
COURTS: Parole violation may send Ransomville woman to jail
A Ransomville woman admitted to violation of parole in Judge Matthew Murphy III’s Niagara County courtroom Wednesday afternoon.
Valerie Finach was accused of a class E felony for her substance abuse and Murphy said she could get up to four years in state prison.
COURTS: Carter defense gets some time
Lawyers for accused killer Darnell Carter asked for additional time on Thursday to determine their next move in his case.
COURTS: Career criminal gets a chance
career criminal looking to turn his life around got that chance in Niagara County Court on Thursday.
Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrazza told Kenneth Longmire she would personally supervise his rehabilitation efforts.
COURTS: Pair rescued from gorge are freed from jail
A woman from England and a U.S. man, formerly living in Canada, have been sentenced to time served for their guilty pleas to charges stemming from an attempt to enter the states that left them stranded on the Niagara Gorge ice bridge.
COURTS: Warme makes new push
Suspended Falls police officer Ryan Warme is now asking a U.S. District Court judge for two separate trials on a federal indictment that charges him with multiple sex crime-related civil rights violations as well as gun and drug counts.
COURTS: Molson ID'd by witness in Wood shooting
It took Bernadette Bishop two attempts to finger the triggerman in the murder of Deion Wood and she was terrified when she did.
“That’s him, that’s him,” she told Falls Detective Patricia McCune. “But I’m the only witness. I’m afraid they’re gonna kill me.”
COURTS: Shepherd pleads guilty in death of wife
After months of back and forth with the Erie County district attorney’s office, Stephen Shepherd pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree manslaughter for killing his wife in May.
Shepherd was found by police in Catskill State Park on May 21, the day after his wife Constance’s body was discovered by people moving into their former Town of Tonawanda home.
COURTS: City will rep Rotella
A federal lawsuit filed by the brother of former Mayor Vince Anello will be able to move forward now that a former councilman has decided to let the city represent him in the case.
Lewis “Babe” Rotella said he has opted to let the Corporation Counsel represent him, even though he no longer serves on the City Council.
COURTS: Suspect in violent attacks freed
A Falls landlord and handyman, accused in two violent assaults, one reaching back more than two years, was freed from police custody after being arraigned in City Court this week.
COURTS: Matteo Anello suit still alive
The federal lawsuit filed against the city by the brother of former Mayor Vince Anello is in limbo while lawyers figure out who will represent the defendants in the case.
Matteo Anello is seeking unspecified damages for what he claims were his false arrest and imprisonment and malicious prosecution after an incident at an Oct. 22, 2007, City Council meeting.
COURTS: Johnson found guilty
A Niagara County Court jury took just over four hours to find Robert Johnson guilty on murder and weapon possession charges in the slaying of his wife.
The jury of eight women and four men began deliberating at 3:30 p.m. and returned with a verdict about 7:30 p.m.
COURTS: Workplace shooter given probation
For William Rosati, Aug. 22, 2008, was a really bad day.
He went on a shooting spree inside his workplace and then climbed onto a frontloader and smashed the roof and ripped the gutters off the building.

Popular business directory searches