Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller has informed The Daily Herald on the latest court proceedings regarding several criminal cases that have been reported in the paper during the last several weeks.
Miller said two people accused of hindering the apprehension of a man who escaped from state police last month decided to waive their preliminary hearings while another person who had been accused had her charges dropped.
Judge Fred Miller confirmed that Jeffery Sprankle and Christopher Ross of Tyrone both waived their hearings last week. Charges against Teeha Rodgers of Altoona were dropped.
According to state police, the three were arrested on Jan. 19 and arraigned before Judge Miller in connection with the escape of William M. McMillon. Police said McMillon had escaped from the Hollidaysburg barracks on Jan. 7 and was captured at a residence located on State Route 865 in Antis Township on Jan. 9.
In a previous report, police said Ross and Rodgers had outstanding warrants against them and were at the residence at the time of McMillon’s capture.
Several drug-related suspects were before Judge Miller on Tuesday stemming from their arrests in January.
A search warrant was executed at 125 Cherry Avenue, Apartment 2, Tyrone according the state’s attorney general’s office. As a result of the warrant, officers seized 74 packets of heroin and 12 tablets of Hydocodone with a street value of $3,000. Authorities also seized $1,181 in cash.
The investigation lasted about a month and was led by Blair County Drug Task Force coordinator Anthony Sassano.
The five suspects had their arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Joseph Moran with bail set at $10,000. All five were committed to Blair County Prison.
The following is a list of the suspects and the latest on their cases:
• Tiffany D. Wolf, 25, 125 Cherry Ave. Apt. No. 2- one count each of delivery and possession of heroin. Her hearing was continued until March 13. Judge Miller said she is facing additional charges regarding another incident;
• Heather M. Wills, 25, 755 Washington Ave.- one count each of delivery and possession of heroin. Her preliminary hearing was held and she was bound over to Blair County Court.
• Dominique D. Nepa, 25, 125 Cherry Ave. Apt. No. 2- one count each of delivery and possession of heroin. Nepa waived her preliminary hearing.
• Nikki Christine Oakes, 28, 123 Bald Eagle Ave.- one count each of delivery and possession of heroin. Judge Miller said there were additional charges against her and she waived her hearing and
• Carl Hardy Jr., 23, (conflicting reports regarding his address)- one count each of delivery and possession of heroin. His hearing was continued upon agreement of the attorneys until next week.
Miller said all of suspects involved in the drug case were remanded to Blair County Prison.
Judge Miller also updated The Herald regarding a case involving Thomas Hammond of Tyrone. A criminal complaint had been filed against him for allegedly violating laws in Tyrone on December 23, 2005.
Hammond was accused of one count each of: indecent assault without consent of the other person, indecent assault on someone under the age of 16 and harassment/stalking.
Miller said Hammond waived his hearing on Tuesday. He said Hammond had posted bail after his arrest and he remained free on bail.
