U.S. attention now on Portugal

Senate GOP blocks minimum-wage hike

First Posted: 4/30/2014 WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A hearing on a woman&#8217;s application for a protection from abuse order against former city towing contractor Leo Glodzik has been pushed back a week.
According to a PFA request filed by Aleksandra O&#8217;Donohue, 25, Glodzik attacked her during a disturbance at his Morgan Drive home on the night of April 17, dragging her around by the hair and beating her in the head until she lost consciousness.
Luzerne County President Judge Thomas F. Burke Jr. on Friday issued a temporary PFA order in favor of O&#8217;Donohue, according to court documents, pending a hearing that was set for this morning.
The hearing has been continued until 9 a.m. May 8 at O&#8217;Donohue&#8217;s request, according to court documents filed Wednesday. Burke indicated the temporary PFA remains in effect until the court states otherwise.
Glodzik has denied the allegations, and city officials said this week that police records show no evidence of any allegations that Glodzik harmed O&#8217;Donohue. Police who responded to a call from Glodzik cited O&#8217;Donohue for one count each of public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.
WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A one-page federal judge&#8217;s order filed Wednesday quietly marked the formal end of the federal case against former state Sen. Raphael Musto, who died last week.
In response to a motion filed Tuesday by federal prosecutors on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo on Wednesday morning dismissed an indictment against the late lawmaker.
Musto was indicted in 2010 on allegations that he accepted the cash and other items of value from the contractor &#8212; identified by his attorneys as developer Robert Mericle &#8212; as part of a scheme designed to secure his continued support of various construction projects, according to the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office.
The retired lawmaker pleaded not guilty. His trial was never held, as Musto battled various ailments. Diagnosed with cancer in March, Musto, 85 died at home of natural causes.
WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Child molester Jose Ramos has been rebuffed in a bid to have a prison sentence handed down last week reconsidered.
Ramos, 70, will spend six to 20 years in state prison for failing to register an address under Megan&#8217;s Law the last time he left prison. He was convicted of that crime after a January jury trial and sentenced on Thursday by Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas.
Barely 24 hours after his sentence was handed down, Ramos&#8217; attorney on Friday afternoon filed a motion seeking reconsideration of his sentence, citing a number of factors, including:
&#8226; His original offense &#8212; a western Pennsylvania molestation case for which he served state prison time &#8212; is more than 27 years old.
&#8226; He has not been convicted of any other criminal activity, save for the failure to register.
&#8226; Ramos is a military veteran.
&#8226; The court &#8220;did not give adequate weight to the years of abuse (Ramos) suffered as a child and the contribution of that abuse to his behaviors as an adult.&#8221;
&#8226; The court also did not give adequate consideration to Ramos&#8217; age, as well as the impact that the &#8220;conditions and treatment&#8221; he endured in 27 years behind bars had on Ramos &#8220;actions, or inactions&#8221; when he prepared to leave state prison in 2012.
The motion was filed by defense attorney John Hakim.
Lupas on Wednesday denied the motion. Ramos has 30 days to appeal the denial.

Court Briefs