MIDDLEBURG — William Gary Sullivan, convicted in 2004 of raping a 12-year-old girl in Shamokin Dam, will get a new trial in Snyder County.
The state Supreme Court Tuesday upheld the state Superior Court’s decision that Mr. Sullivan deserves a retrial because new evidence appears to show he was in another state in 1999 when one of three alleged sexual assaults on the girl took place.
“I understand why they didn’t want to hear the case,” District Attorney Michael Sholley said of the higher court’s decision. “It’s a difficult situation and would be making new law.”
Mr. Sholley prosecuted Mr. Sullivan in March 2004 in a weeklong jury trial that ended with the former registered nurse from North Carolina being convicted of sexually assaulting the girl on three separate occasions in 1999 and 2000.
Mr. Sullivan contended one of the dates of the assault was first disclosed at trial and he didn’t have time to provide alibi evidence of his whereabouts.
After his conviction, his new attorney, chief public defender John Reed, presented the court information that showed Mr. Sullivan and his family were visiting a Tennessee theme park during one of the alleged incidents.
“It raises a real question about the whole series of accusations,” Mr. Reed said Wednesday.
Mr. Sullivan had served three years of a 16 1/2 year- to 60-year sentence at the State Correctional Institution at Cresson when the state Superior Court granted him a new trial.
He was released on $50,000 bail in March and has been living in Florida with his wife and 14-year-old son pending the appellate court’s decision and new trial.
In a telephone interview last month, Mr. Sullivan said he was looking forward to having another chance to prove his innocence.
A new trial will likely take place in early 2008, Mr. Sholley said.
n E-mail comments to mmoore@dailyitem.com
News
Man headed back to court for alleged assault on girl
- News
-
-
Trial set for May 14 in Jerry Sandusky abuse case
BELLEFONTE — Jerry Sandusky says a local jury would be no more or less biased against him in his child sex abuse trial than a jury from anywhere else in Pennsylvania.
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
LEWISBURG -- Superintendent Mark DiRocco told the Lewisburg school board Thursday night that a proposed block grant system of school budget funding will run the district short of cash that will have to be made up through personnel and program cuts. Lewisburg's proposed 2012-13 budget stands at $28.6 million, with no less but also no more money coming from Harrisburg. "Even a neutral budget is problematic," DiRocco said.
-
Mom: Keller's response left her cold
LEWISBURG -- Like many people, Elise Nicol is concerned about Marcellus Shale and the industry's effects on Pennsylvania's environment. The Lewisburg mother of two cares about it enough that she sent an email to state Rep. Fred Keller, R-85 of Kreamer, asking him to oppose House Bill 1950, which passed the General Assembly on Wednesday.
-
Point Township authority concerned by sewer plant violations
NORTHUMBERLAND -- Point Township Sewer Authority members Thursday night expressed concerns about a Feb. 3 letter sent to the Northumberland Sewer Authority by the state's Department of Environmental Protection saying that the borough authority has violated the Clean Streams Act.
-
Persing truck fee idea stalls
SUNBURY -- While Pennsylvania has passed legislation allowing communities to collect impact fees in 35 counties, Northumberland County is not one of them, and business leaders and lawmakers do not think Sunbury Mayor David Persing's plan to try to do his own version of an impact fee will pass muster.
-
Barber draws a crowd
DANVILLE -- The talk can be spirited at times, ranging from hunting to sports to home repairs. "You hear all kinds of stories," Gene Koehler, of Riverside, said Thursday as he waited for a haircut at The Masters barbershop, 209 Mill St. No appointment is necessary. Customers can just walk in.
-
State board approves table games at Valley Forge casino
VALLEY FORGE — A casino resort scheduled to open this spring in the Philadelphia suburb of Valley Forge has been approved for table games.
-
Doctors telling more adults: Get out and exercise
ATLANTA — A new study shows more and more U.S. adults are being told by their doctor to get off their duffs and exercise. A government survey found nearly 33 percent of adults who saw a doctor in the previous year said they were told to exercise. That was up from about 23 percent in 2000.
-
Former Northumberland County judge and three others die in Florida crash
EVERGLADES CITY, Fla. -- A former Northumberland County judge was one of four people killed Wednesday afternoon when their car collided with a van at an intersection, according to the Naples News. The victims were identified as James J. Rosini, 66, William J. Rosini, 68, Patricia C. Rosini, 65, all of Coal Township, Pa., and Deborah A. Korbich, 59, of Elysburg, Pa.
-
Warden demotes four bosses
SUNBURY -- Northumberland County Prison Warden Roy Johnson was able to trim about $135,000 in expenses by demoting four supervisors. He said Wednesday that he found a way to cut costs without laying off any staff. "I cut out 120 hours of supervisors' pay each week, but I need to fill the correction officer positions," Johnson said.
-
DJ pumps up audience
Every Tuesday evening, Richard Grogg can be found spinning tunes at possibly the most well-attended dance in Snyder County. A resident at the Selinsgrove Center since 1988, the 57-year-old said the thing he likes most about selecting and playing music is "making people happy." "Some people come up and ask for requests," he said.
-
Agency closes adult center
PENNS CREEK -- Union and Snyder County caregivers have had to look farther and wider for another program that can offer respite because the Agency on Aging can no longer afford to provide the service. The adult daily living center at the Penns Creek Adult Resource Center was a helpful program each week to about eight adults from the area dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia. But it closed Dec. 30.
- More News Headlines
-
Trial set for May 14 in Jerry Sandusky abuse case
