Manhunt underway for escaped killer in Pocopson
Danelo Cavalcante
A man who was convicted of killing his girlfriend — and is wanted for another murder in Brazil — escaped from Chester county Prison Thursday morning, prompting a massive manhunt in the area around the prison.
Prison officials report that at approximately 8:50 a.m., a prison inmate, Danelo Cavalcante, escaped from Chester County Prison. A search of the prison and surrounding...
Coroner: prisoner death was due to natural causes
The Chester County Coroner’s Office is releasing information on the death of Dimitrios Moscharis. Moscharis, 34, died June 18, 2021 in the Chester County Prison. The cause of death is sudden cardiac arrhythmia due to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), manner natural. Results from two autopsies, one performed by a forensic pathologist for the Coroner’s Office and the other a private autopsy performed...
Coroner to conduct inquest after Chesco Prison death
Chester County Coroner Dr. Christina VandePol will be conducting an inquest into the death of Dimitrios Moscharis on October 21, 2021. Moscharis, 34, died in the Chester County Prison on June 18, 2021.
“In-custody deaths demand transparency,” said Dr. VandePol. “The inquest is uniquely suited to that purpose. The decedent was only 34 and had no significant past medical history. We found no...
Chester County Prison receives State Best Practices Award
Chester County Commissioners Michelle Kichline (left), Marian Moskowitz (center right) and Josh Maxwell (right) present the Criminal Justice Systems for the 21st Century Award to Chris Murphy, Chief of Probation, Parole and Pretrial Services for Chester County.
WEST CHESTER — Chester County Prison has been selected as state-wide winner, receiving the 21st Century Criminal Justice Best Practices...
Chesco Prison inmates charged with COVID-related benefits fraud
PHILADELPHIA – First Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that twelve Chester County Prison inmates and their accomplices were charged federally with fraudulently applying for and obtaining emergency unemployment benefits related to COVID-19. The defendants are charged with submitting false applications claiming that the prison inmates lost jobs as a result...
Man faces ‘dreaded’ heroin charge
Allegedly smuggled drug into Chester Co. Prison in his hair
Jarrett Mason
POCOPSON — A Philadelphia man may have had one of the all-time bad hair days after reportedly smuggling packets of heroin into Chester County Prison last month, stashed within his dreadlocks, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said.
Hogan said that Jarrett Mason was arrested on drug charges in Phoenixville on July...
Guard, 7 others charged with smuggling drugs into Chester Co. Prison
Douglas Keck
POCOPSON — A corrections officer at Chester County Prison is being charged with allegedly being part of a scheme to smuggle drugs to inmates, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said Monday.
Douglas Keck, 45, of Pottstown was charged along with seven other individuals — including four inmates at the prison — in organizing an operation to smuggle heroin, Subutex (a narcotic...
Pocopson says county should pay share of fire protection
Township objects to prison, Pocopson Home residents included in share funding
By Kelli Siehl, Staff Writer, The Times
POCOPSON — Township officials say that local residents should not be asked to pay for the fire-protection cost of residents at county-owned facilities, which now threaten to eat up one-third — or more – of the municipal budget, were the township to comply with funding recommendations.
At...
Ex-foster parent gets 20 to 40 years in prison
Leroy K. Mitchell accepts plea deal, admits molesting five children
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Leroy K. Mitchell
For years, a respected member of the community molested various children in his care – until one “very courageous 10-year-old girl” broke the cycle, not only reporting the abuse but also agreeing to call the perpetrator, who apologized while police were...
Traffic stop reportedly leads to fugitive arrest
Kennett Square Police: Local resident wanted in Arizona on multiple charges
A traffic stop on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at 8:40 p.m., in the 500 block of West South Street led to an arrest, Kennett Square Police said. Officers determined that Salvador Bernal-Lagunas, 33, of Kennett Square, had an arrest warrant out of Maricopa County, Az., for illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering, assisting...
