web1_122761090-afe0d0a6b8c24cb1adf37bdbe1f5fa63.jpg

US productivity grows at solid 3.6% rate in first quarter

web1_handcuffs.jpg

White Haven man charged with assaulting nurse

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; Preliminary hearings for three people accused in the stabbing death of a 71-year-old man in Edwardsville last month were continued Thursday while prosecutors continue the extradition process of a fourth suspect from Virginia.</p><p>State police and Edwardsville police heightened security outside and inside the Kingston Municipal Building when Mercedes Lin Hall, 16, and Christopher Brian Cortez, 19, were taken before District Judge James Haggerty.</p><p>Their preliminary hearings were continued for different reasons.</p><p>Hall never applied to the Luzerne County Public Defender&#8217;s Office for a defense lawyer since her arrest on April 17. Haggerty said he will have a public defender appointed to defend Hall.</p><p>Cortez&#8217;s lawyer, David V. Lampman II, advised Haggerty he was just assigned to defend Cortez on Wednesday as a conflict lawyer. Lampman requested and was given time to prepare his defense of Cortez.</p><p>Attorney John Pike was appointed as conflict lawyer to defend 17-year-old Gabriella Elizabeth Long.</p><p>Long was not in Haggerty&#8217;s courtroom Thursday as her hearing was previously continued.</p><p>Assistant District Attorney Jarrett Ferentino said during the brief hearing the fourth suspect, Devin Malik Cunningham, 20, remains jailed in Virginia where he was captured by U.S. Marshals at his mother&#8217;s home in Fairfax on April 25.</p><p>Ferentino said extradition of Cunningham to Luzerne County has not been finalized.</p><p>Once Cunningham is returned, a conflict lawyer will likely be appointed.</p><p>Conflict lawyers are appointed to represent defendants when there is a conflict of interest with the public defender&#8217;s office.</p><p>State police charged the four with killing Joseph Monka inside his home on Arch Street, Edwardsville, on April 15. Monka&#8217;s body was discovered by police conducting a welfare check on April 17.</p><p>Long was Monka&#8217;s granddaughter and staying at the Arch Street residence.</p><p>Investigators allege Long invited Hall, Cortez and Cunningham to sleep over the night of April 14 into April 15.</p><p>Long and Hall told investigators they were all hanging out in a bedroom when Cortez and Cunningham left. Hall claimed she went looking for Cortez and knocked on Monka&#8217;s bedroom door. When Cortez opened the door, she claimed he was covered in blood.</p><p>Investigators allege the four stole nearly $30,000 from a safe in Monka&#8217;s residence and a Kia Soul.</p><p>Long, Hall and Cortez were arrested when they were seen leaving the Red Roof Inn in Plains Township on April 17.</p><p>Haggerty continued the preliminary hearings to June 7.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL050319PERP2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Christopher Cortez leaves court Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL050319PERP2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Christopher Cortez leaves court Thursday. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Mercedes-Lin-Hall-05022019.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Mercedes Hall leaves court Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_Mercedes-Lin-Hall-05022019.jpg</photo1><caption1>Mercedes Hall leaves court Thursday. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Hearing continued for homicide suspects