Update: Arthur Henderson Awaits Sentencing after Conviction in Rapes of Three Women in Ross, Hopewell

After representing himself during his trial, the convicted rapist is scheduled to be sentenced in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

Convicted rapist Arthur Lamont Henderson is scheduled to be sentenced March 26 after a jury  found him guilty of raping three women in Ross and Hopewell townships. Jurors deliberated for less than four hours before returning a verdict, ending an unusual trial in which Henderson acted as his own attorney and cross-examined his victims as well as the police officers who arrested him, according to thePittsburgh Post-Gazette. During closing arguments in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, Henderson claimed he was framed while the prosecution said it had proven its case beyond any doubt. The Ross Township rapes were reported Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Woodhawk Club Apartments complex on Johnanna Drive and on Monday, Jan. 9, at the Cascades …

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Orie Case: Prosecutors Wrapping Up Case Against State Senator

Documents, signatures at issue in criminal case against North Hills lawmaker.

Election Central 2011: Allegheny County Row Offices, Court Races

Former state legislator Chelsa Wagner easily wins a first term as county controller; Alexander Bicket and Michael Marmo win seats on the Common Pleas Court bench, according to unofficial results from the Allegheny County Elections Bureau.

All vote totals are unofficial until certified by the Allegheny County Elections Bureau but are based on 100 percent of precincts reporting. Democrat Chelsa Wagner, a state legislator from Brookline, easily defeated Robert Howard of Marshall, drawing nearly twice as many votes to win her first term as Allegheny County Controller. Wagner, a business analyst and attorney, most recently has served as the state representative for the 22nd District in the South Hills. A member of a politically active family, she defeated Howard, a former North Allegheny school director, to win her first term in county office. Wagner won her spot on the general election ballot after defeating primary-election Democratic challengers George Matta, a former clerk …

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2011 Results: Allegheny County Common Pleas Court

Voters choose Marmo, Bicket for two seats on the county court bench.

Incumbent Common Pleas Judge Michael Marmo and Mt. Lebanon attorney Alexander P. Bicket appear to be Allegheny County's next Common Pleas judges after winning the two top spots on both the Republican and Democrat ballots today. Two seats are open on the county bench, meaning that the two candidates are almost certain to win again in the November general election. Republican candidates included: Democrat candidates included:

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Allegheny County Courts To Dedicate New Center

County's second Day Reporting Center aims to help offenders stay out of jail and off the streets.

Allegheny County court officials on Monday plan to open a second day-reporting center in Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood to consolidate services aimed at helping former offenders stay out of jail and build new, productive lives. Comon Pleas President Judge Donna Jo McDaniel and Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning, who oversees the court's criminal division, will dedicate the center at 5750 Baum Boulevard at noon. An open house will follow until 3 p.m. The day reporting center is the county's second; the first opened in Pittsburgh's Arlington neighborhood in January 2009. Court officials said the center aims to bring together education, employment and counseling services under one roof. Former offenders may seek help there to stop …

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Allegheny County to Launch New Court for Sex-Offender Cases

Pilot program could be a model for others in Pennsylvania and could spur GPS tracking of offenders.

Pennsylvania’s first sex-offender court will launch in June in Allegheny County, state and local officials announced this afternoon.  The court is a test case for the state and will handle the roughly 300 cases the county sees each year, ensuring that they move through the system more quickly. Allegheny County Common Pleas President Judge Donna Jo McDaniel will preside over the special court, which will give her and two other judges time to focus on the complex cases.  Pennsylvania will be the third state to set up a sex-offender court. The pilot program in Allegheny County could be expanded to other areas of the state in a year or so if it is deemed successful. “Allegheny County courts have always been very pro-active in creating …

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