Published: January 30, 2008 10:31 pm            

Police seek suspect in assault, rape

Johnstown police issued an appeal Wednesday for the public’s help in tracking down Robert Jackson Jr. – a fugitive wanted in two felony cases.

Jackson, 24, of Springfield, N.Y., who had been staying in Johnstown, is charged with pistol-whipping and robbing a city man and then raping the victim’s girlfriend Nov. 2.

He also is charged with statutory sex assault and other charges for allegedly having sex with and then taking a 15-year-old girl with him Nov. 15 when he left the area. The girl later was located and returned to Johnstown.

The police said Jackson also is known as “Carlos,” “K,” “Lo” and “Los.” They believe he went to New York, but are unsure whether he might have slipped back into the area, city police Detective Lawrence Wagner said.

Anyone with information may call the police at the Cambria 911 nonemergency number: (800) 281-1680.

In other police-related news:

• Today’s preliminary hearing for a 17-year-old girl charged with stabbing a man to death has been continued until Feb. 7 by District Judge Michael Musulin.

Brittany McCoy of the Coopersdale Homes, who is charged as an adult, is charged in the Jan. 18 killing of her live-in boyfriend, 21-year-old Bruce Dickerson, at their apartment.

McCoy, who had been represented by a public defender, now has retained Thomas Dickey of Altoona as her attorney, Musulin’s office said Wednesday.

Dickey asked for the hearing delay.

McCoy is charged with first-degree murder and related offenses. She is lodged in Cambria County Prison without bail.

• A Flinton couple was charged with a drug-law violation after police said they found paraphernalia when called to their residence for a domestic dispute on Tuesday.

Andrew James Ropp, 28, and Lisa Rene Ropp, 25, of the 100 block of Ropp Lane, were charged by the state police.

Police said they found a bong in plain view. After receiving a consent to search the residence, a pot pipe and suspected marijuana were found and seized, police said.

• Marissa M. Cheatham, 43, of the 700 block of Kennedy Avenue, Johnstown, has pleaded guilty to one count of violating drug laws before U.S. District Judge Kim Gibson.

Cheatham conspired with other codefendants to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 13/4 ounces of cocaine base and more than 1 pound of cocaine.

The conspiracy took place between May 4, 2004, and Dec. 6, 2005, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Haines.

Gibson set sentencing in his courtroom in Johnstown at 2:30 p.m. May 28.

• Two Johnstown area men will face Cambria County Court action on charges they conspired to steal copper piping from several residences in the Prospect neighborhood of Johnstown.

Eric Scott Winkelman, 42, of the 1000 block of William Penn Avenue in East Taylor Township, and Scott Burkett, 25, of the 700 block of Horner Street, Johnstown, each waived his right to a preliminary hearing before District Judge Michael Musulin of downtown Johnstown.

Johnstown police still are searching for a third suspect.

Police said the three conspired to steal the piping between September and November. The piping then was sold at scrapyards.

• A Patton woman faces traffic charges after a Wednesday morning wreck on Route 36 in Clearfield Township.

State police said Kimberly A. Legros, 26, was driving south about 8 a.m. when she lost control of her Jeep and struck a tree, disabling the vehicle. Police did not say whether Legros was injured.

        

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