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Our view: Council dropped the ball with rec funding decision

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Dallas Township to team with Kingston Township’s summer rec program

<p>For the first time in his life, the fingerprints of former Penn State standout Harry Hamilton were entered into a criminal database Wednesday after he waived his preliminary hearing in State College on two felony charges stemming from an altercation with his son.</p><p>Hamilton, a former NFL defensive back turned lawyer, said he felt compelled to waive the hearing, sending his charges to county court. Hamilton had planned to represent himself, but a Centre Daily Times report said Hamilton&#8217;s law license was inactive.</p><p>Some terms of Hamilton&#8217;s bail conditions were lifted, allowing him to visit school grounds and attend track meets his two sons living in Centre County participate in. One son is in his custody, the other is not.</p><p>&#8220;What came out of today is they reversed what I believed to be excessive bail &#8212; I was not allowed on school property &#8212; and they gave me back that freedom,&#8221; said Hamilton, who played eight seasons as a safety for the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers after helping Penn State to the 1982 national title. &#8220;I can now go see the son (in his custody) perform at his local high school track meets.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m elated with what (District Judge) Carmine Prestia did, agreed with the district attorney and found this not to be part of any bail (terms),&#8221; Hamilton continued. &#8220;But from a legal standpoint, Carmen Prestia could have put a stop to this whole thing.&#8221;</p><p>Instead, Hamilton said he was researched on the internet in open court and prodded to answer questions while his constitutional right to remain silent was disregarded &#8212; which influenced his decision to cut short a preliminary hearing that was continued from last Wednesday.</p><p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t plan to waive it,&#8221; Hamilton said.</p><p>His legal battle stems from a March 3 incident which Hamilton insists was a checkup on the son who is not in his custody. Hamilton said he was visiting that son&#8217;s home and attempted to pull the boy out of the residence when he allegedly smelled marijuana smoke coming from upstairs.</p><p>Police charged Hamilton with felony counts of burglary and criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor count of simple assault and two summary counts of harassment. He maintains he did no damage to the house&#8212; or the people inside &#8212; during his visit.</p><p>&#8220;Somebody broke part of the door, as if to support there was a break-in into the home,&#8221; Hamilton said. &#8220;I saw the pictures for the first time in court (Wednesday). My first reaction was, &#8216;I&#8217;m being set up.&#8217; What difference does it make? I have a fundamental right to protect my son.&#8221;</p><p>Hamilton&#8217;s motion to move the case into federal court was denied, forcing him to be fingerprinted and photographed following Wednesday&#8217;s proceedings.</p><p>&#8220;Like a common criminal,&#8221; Hamilton said. &#8220;I had fought to challenge that as cruel and unusual punishment. A man like me, or honestly any father, should not have to undergo that for trying to save any person&#8217;s life from drugs. Especially an offspring.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Hamitlon </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_maxresdefault-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Hamitlon </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Paul Sokoloski</p><p>psokoloski@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Paul Sokoloski at 570-829-7143 or on Twitter @TLPaulSokoloski</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Former Penn State, NFL standout Hamilton waives preliminary hearing