No bond for drug suspect
A Washington County judge Tuesday revoked the bond for a defendant who was released from jail earlier this month in one of the first sessions of the new pretrial services program.
Judge Michael J. Lucas revoked the $50,000 bond for Erica Lynn Andrews, 34, who has been in jail since Feb. 13 on charges of witness intimidation, simple assault, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and harassment.
Authorities allege Andrews, of 1117 Main St., Burgettstown, assaulted a woman who was visiting her apartment Feb. 13, five days after Judge Gary Gilman released Andrews on prior drug charges. The woman said Andrews grabbed her by the hair and began punching her in the face and head. The woman told police that during the assault, Andrews yelled at her, accusing her of going through her phone and that she was a snitch.
Andrews had been jailed on $25,000 bond on drug charges stemming from a Feb. 6 incident in which McDonald police served a search warrant at Andrews’ apartment and seized cocaine, crack, marijuana, paraphernalia and $1,365, according to reports.
“Our principle concern is that she was released as part of the pretrial services, and in a short period of time, she violated it (terms of release),” Assistant District Attorney Jerome Moschetta told Lucas.
The pretrial services program is aimed at matching recently arrested defendants with treatment services at a quicker pace.
Public defender Katie Bacher argued Andrews’ bond should not be revoked because she plans to fight both the drug charges and the counts from the Feb. 13 incident when she has a preliminary hearing March 15. Bacher said witnesses Andrews plans to call in her defense were not available during Tuesday’s proceeding.
In an unrelated case, Andrews is set for trial March 6 before Lucas on simple assault and disorderly conduct charges.