Jefferson junkyard owner not guilty
WAYNESBURG – Marko Demaske, whose tavern and junkyard in Jefferson were raided by state police in June 2014, was acquitted on all charges following a nonjury trial last week.
Senior Visiting Judge Hiram Carpenter III found Demaske, 52, of 1447 Main St., not guilty Friday on 10 counts of receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance during the three-day trial.
State police accused Demaske of being in possession of a stolen all-terrain vehicle and several chain saws, yard tools and concrete saws when they searched his family’s tavern, an upstairs residence and property June 20, 2014. The items were found in a junkyard on his property, and numerous guns and cash were also taken by investigators during the search.
Neil Marcus, Demaske’s Monongahela-based defense attorney, said they are now working to have state police return the 77 guns, most of which he said were collectibles owned by Demaske’s father, and $11,750 in cash seized from a safe on the property. He said they will file a motion soon if those items are not returned immediately.
“We’re obviously pleased,” Marcus said of the verdict. “My client and his whole family were humiliated when his picture was put in the paper after he was handcuffed (during his arraignment).”
District Attorney Marjorie Fox said she could not comment on the verdict, but “respected the judge’s decision.” It was not known what would happen to the ATV or power tools confiscated and held as evidence.
Marcus said he thinks the raid and charges stemmed from people in the community who disliked Demaske, although he did not elaborate. He pointed to criminal charges filed against Demaske three other times in a 12-year period in which he was later acquitted or the charges were dropped.
“All I know is that my client is a very hard-working individual,” Marcus said. “He’s done a lot in the community, and for reasons that are unclear to me, he is unliked. There is some animus there.”
Demaske was charged with resisting arrest, escape, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness in 2005, and was only convicted of the latter charge. He was charged with receiving stolen property in 2010, but that case was dismissed before reaching court. Demaske was found not guilty of disorderly conduct for unreasonable noise in 2003.