Apr 16, 2013 3 min read

A suspended Allegheny County Jail guard accused of deliberately striking a Washington woman with her vehicle last month had her hearing continued Tuesday.

District Judge Ethan Ward also denied a request by David Shrager, defense attorney for Erica Marie Williams, 24, of Carnegie, to allow his client to return to Washington County.

The complaint against Williams was amended to include a charge of attempted homicide instead of attempted manslaughter. She is also charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and criminal mischief.

Williams is accused of using her car to strike 19-year-old Jolene Anderson March 26 in the 900 block of Addison Street. Anderson suffered facial and other injuries when she was thrown onto the hood of the car before falling onto the road.

Washington police Officer Joseph Fichter, in court documents filed with District Judge Robert Redlinger, indicated Williams tried to kill Anderson after Anderson reportedly ended a relationship with her. Anderson, according to police, refused to see or talk to Williams. A witness told police Williams had spent that day looking for Anderson.

At her arraignment earlier this month, Redlinger set Williams’ bond at $100,000 unsecured but as a condition ordered her not to return to the county unless she was in the company of her attorney.

Schrager explained to Ward that his client is currently suspended without pay from her job, pending the outcome of the case.

“She resides in Carnegie pursuant to her job,” Schrager said. “She is temporarily suspended without pay until this is resolved and she may not be able to pay her rent.”

Schrager said that Williams wants to move in with her parents, who live in McDonald. He said his client had lived in Washington County her entire life until moving to Allegheny County because of the job.

“She understands she is to have no contact with the victim,” Schrager said.

Assistant District Attorney Josh Carroll said there is some concern about allowing Williams to return to the county.

“Prior to her arraignment, there was some contact between her and the victim and her family,” Carroll said. “There has been nothing since, but obviously Judge Redlinger felt strongly enough about it to impose the condition.”

In deciding to maintain the condition, Ward told Schrager that if his client loses her residence, then he will again address the issue.

Ward agreed to continue the hearing until June 25 at Shrager’s request. Carroll said the continuance will allow the defense attorney to prepare for the attempted homicide charge as well as deal with potential civil case issues against his client.