DV Journal

(This article first appeared in Broad + Liberty)

The Chester County treasurer’s side gig of working as an expert witness in civil trials has been dealt substantial blows in the last three years, as her testimony has been excluded from two trials in which she was presumably paid by the plaintiffs to provide expert medical testimony.

In at least one of those cases, the judge ruled that Patricia Maisano, a Democrat elected as the Chester County treasurer in 2017, didn’t have the expertise required to allow her testimony to be considered by the jury.

Those revelations come in addition to a Broad + Liberty report from 2021 showing Maisano has for years claimed she received masters and doctorate degrees from Sheffield State University, or sometimes Sheffield University. Whichever name is used, both describe a website that is really a diploma mill that sells bogus, unaccredited master’s degrees for $399 and doctorate degrees for $499.

(Screenshot source: https://www.sheffieldstateuniversity.com/doctorate-degree-program/ – accessed Nov. 27, 2024)

Yet in neither case did any of the attorneys or judges appear to notice that Maisano’s masters and doctorate degrees were fake.

When reached by phone last week for comment, Maisano immediately cut off the conversation and ended the call. “I’m done now. I’m done now. Do not call me again,” she said before hanging up.

At least as early as 2017, Maisano was describing her “doctorate” degree as being conferred by Sheffield University, as seen on this Treddyfrin Democrats website.

There is, however, a Sheffield University in England, but as Broad + Liberty’s 2021 report noted, “Attempts to verify if Maisano ever attended or was awarded a degree by Sheffield University in England are ongoing, and will be updated when that information is received.”

Two weeks after that report, a spokesperson for the real, accredited Sheffield University in England said, “Our academic verification team have got back to me and said that as far as they can tell, there are no records of anyone studying here with the name Patricia Maisano.” The request for verification also used Maisano’s maiden name. If Maisano did, in fact, ever attend the Sheffield University in England, she has refused to provide any proof.

Working as an expert witness can be lucrative. Plaintiffs or defendants in civil trials often hire experts to testify in order to give the jury a better understanding of facts that require deep mastery of complex subjects, such as a doctor offering expertise on a certain kind of trauma, or forensic accountants who can explain byzantine financial transactions. Such experts are able to charge anywhere from $200 to $1,500 an hour, both in their time for preparing for trial as well as for their in-trial testimony.

Not only must the person have the qualifications to offer expert testimony, but they must also frequently understand rules and regulations of the court that govern how their testimony is offered.

In one of the court cases in which Maisano’s testimony was excluded, her credibility and expertise were called into question, and suffered a withering rebuke.

In a 2021 case from Florida, a woman plaintiff alleged she suffered physical and emotional abuse during four years of her romantic relationship with the defendant. Maisano said the woman suffered PTSD because of the relationship.

But the defendants moved to have Maisano’s conclusions removed from the trial, and the judge agreed.

“Here, the Report [authored by Maisano] contains two and a half pages of vague and conclusory assertions that Plaintiff has PTSD, and that Defendant is the direct cause of this ailment,” the judge wrote. “Nowhere in the Report does Maisano explain the criteria that she used to diagnose or confirm that Plaintiff has PTSD, nor does she explain how she came to the opinion that Defendant was the direct cause of Plaintiff’s psychological ailments.”

In another part of addressing the question of whether Maisano should be allowed as an expert, the judge ruled on a procedure which requires the expert to list other cases in which he or she has testified as an expert.

“As to the fifth requirement, the [Maisano] Report fails to list all of the cases within the past four years in which Maisano has testified as an expert,” the judge noted. “In fact, the Report does not list a single instance in which Maisano has ever testified.”

The judge was further critical of Maisano’s alleged expertise.

“However, nothing in Maisano’s credentials indicates that she has extensive or specialized experience in diagnosing or treating PTSD — let alone linking a diagnosis to its root cause. In fact, Maisano is licensed as a nurse in Delaware and Pennsylvania, both of which appear to prohibit nurses from independently offering medical diagnoses,” the judge wrote.

“Moreover, nothing within Maisano’s curriculum vitae convinces the Court that she has specialized training in diagnosing PTSD and its origins. Nor has any evidence been proffered that Maisano is in fact a specialist within this field.”

The judge’s rebuke stands in contrast to a legal experts website in which Maisano appeared to write her own testimonial about her effectiveness in medical cases.

“I have also worked with attorneys as a consultant when have been considering cases and when they have needed the medical game plan for a successful outcome,” the site reads. “My testimony has been favored over Doctors and Psychologists by the courts, with most of the cases I have been involved in hostile and lawyers combative. Although I certainly appreciate the ‘more easy’ case, in this part of the US I have a reputation for handling the ugly.”

In a separate case from North Carolina, Maisano offered her opinions for a plaintiff in a medical malpractice case against Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center based in Charlotte.

In arguing that Maisano should be excluded, Novant’s attorneys wrote, “Both Nurse Maisano and Nurse Boyer fail to qualify as an expert witness…as neither spent the majority of their professional time from the year previous to January 9, 2020 — the date of the alleged incident — in active clinical practice or the instruction of students at an accredited health professional school.”

The filing also took aim at how long Maisano had been away from actual clinical work.

“After earning her RN degree, Nurse Maisano worked as a medical-surgical unit nurse from 1972 to 1974 and later advanced into acute psychiatric work and hematology ending in 1980,” the defense attorneys wrote. “This is the last time Nurse Maisano provided care to patients in a clinical setting and concludes the extent of Nurse Maisano’s clinical experience. Moreover, Nurse Maisano has not administered medications to patients at bedside since 1984.”

(Editor’s note: The previous quote was edited for readability by removing certain legal notations.)

The subsequent December 2023 ruling by the judge excluded Maisano on technical grounds, and as such, did not go into detail on Maisano’s level of expertise — or lack thereof — as the previous judge did.

Using the federal court records database, Broad + Liberty was unable to identify any other federal cases in which Maisano was allowed to testify as an expert.

Maisano keeps a website to represent her availability as an expert witness. On that site, her curriculum vitae says she has worked as a “national patient coordinator” at “Crossroads Head Injury Center” in Pittsburgh. Broad + Liberty is unable to find any evidence of that institution.

There is a Crossroads Speech & Hearing, Inc. located in Pittsburgh and which was established in 1981, but it’s unclear if that’s the institution Maisano is referencing. A request for confirmation of her employment there is pending.

Additionally, the same CV lists her masters and a PhD, but the CV fails to list the institution or institutions from which those degrees were conferred.

Other elements of Maisano’s resume check out.

She was involved in the creation of a company called IKOR that provided senior care and senior care consulting, and eventually sold regional franchise units. At some unknown date, IKOR was sold to RiseMark Brands. In 2016, Investors Management Corporation, a Raleigh, North Carolina, private investment firm, absorbed IKOR as part of its acquisition of RiseMark.

Business records available online at the Pennsylvania Department of State show an IKOR registered in 1993 with Patricia Maisano as president.

A request for comment sent to a senior manager at RiseMark was not returned.

Various IKOR franchises can still occasionally be found, mostly in the northeast.

Sheffield State University’s diploma-mill website, meanwhile, barely conceals its true purpose.

“Sheffield State University offers a wide range of Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate/PhD in a broad variety of fields. It’s easy: just complete our free, no obligation, evaluation form and submit it to us, risk free,” the site says.

For all of the degrees on the menu, the graduation date offered is “your choice.”

(Source: https://www.sheffieldstateuniversity.com/apply-now/ accessed Nov. 27, 2024)

How can someone apply to Sheffield State? The website’s answer is riddled with grammatical, punctuation, and style errors that would embarrass a middle school student.

“You just have to proceed to the Apply Now, select your desired major in which you have experience and want to grow your career. But it is essential that you provide your complete detail regarding your work or life experiences,” the website says. “Also personal information is required for us to provide accreditation to your degree. As our experts will evaluate your experience for applied degree standards and give you credit as per your evaluation so you can meet industry standards set my Unites Sates Educational Department.

“After that your payment will be verified once we will receive your payment confirmation your order will be proceed to dispatch level. This way you will receive your doctorate degree within 7 days’ time frame with proper process and evaluation so you don’t have any issue when you provide it your employer or experts of your industry. Our aim is to provide growth to your skills and career not to play with it.”

A 2015 report by the Hartford Courant published one of the first news reports to alert the public to Sheffield State’s deceptions, the kind of which had become more common in the internet era.

In 2023, the Irish news outlet RTÉ caught a psychologist widely using the honorific of “Dr.” even though her doctorate was from Sheffield State. She apologized after the report aired.

Chester County Commissioners Chairman Josh Maxwell posted on X that the Chester County government services center was evacuated Tuesday evening because of a bomb threat.

Voters who vote at the two polling places there were diverted to other locations nearby by where they can cast provisional ballots and those locations well stay open until 10 p.m. for those displaced voters only.

Bomb sniffing dogs are searching the government services center and if no bomb is found it will be back in use soon, Maxwell said.

Later Maxwell posted, “In Chester County, PA about half our our election work was delayed about an hour and half due to the bomb threat. Our team is back to full throttle to count in person and mail in ballots.”

Chester County DA Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said they are working with the FBI and the bomb threat appeared to have originated overseas.

“This is part of a consistent coordinated attempt to call in bomb threats to swing states to disrupt the election,” said de Barrena-Sarobe.

At a press conference, Gov. Josh Shapiro said there have been multiple bomb threats to polling places but there is “no credible threat to the public.”

“Millions of legal eligible voters made their voices heard,” said Shapiro.

(From a press release)

Chester County Government’s focus on ending homelessness recently received an $800,000 boost with a grant awarded by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). PHFA’s Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement – or PHARE – funds will expand the County’s current effort to support those who are experiencing homelessness, with the goal of helping them to become safely and permanently housed.

“This grant is great news for Chester County, and it is a testament to the staff in our Department of Community Development who, every day, seek to find homes for those who do not have them, and help those who have homes keep them,” said Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Josh Maxwell.

“The team prepared a compelling application for the funding, noting the effective programs and strategies that we have in place, and how the additional funding will be effective and measurable.”

The activities that will be funded under the PHARE grant include support for Chester County’s 211 Call Center, expansion of the County’s Street Outreach Team, emergency housing coordination and strategic plan effort for Chester County’s Partnership to End Homelessness initiative.

Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz said, “A large portion of this grant will contribute to the 211 Call Center – located right here in Chester County – which is the single point of entry for people experiencing a housing crisis or who need emergency housing resources. Calling 211 helps to determine the housing need, which can lead to connections with Chester County’s Street Outreach Team – another service that will be expanded thanks to this PHARE funding.”

Since the PHARE funding began in 2018, Chester County’s Department of Community Development has received a total of $3.1 million to enhance and expand efforts to prevent and end homelessness.

“One of the greatest benefits of the PHARE program is that the funds are provided to meet locally identified needs,” said Chester County Commissioner Eric Roe. “Our application explains how the grant can best support our strategies, programs and efforts to prevent and end homelessness right here in Chester County, which leads to real impact.”

In addition to Chester County’s Department of Community Development, 14 other county organizations received PHARE grants totaling more than $3 million. Many of these organizations are part of the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness network.

Funding for the PHARE awards comes from two main sources. Since 2012, the program has received a portion of the impact fees collected from natural gas companies operating in Pennsylvaniawith a goal of addressing the housing shortage caused by the impact of drilling. That is supplemented with funding provided by a portion of the realty transfer tax.

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(From a press release)

Josh Maxwell, chair of the Chester County Board of Commissioners, has been elected Chairman of the Board of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the Greater Philadelphia region’s federally-designated metropolitan planning organization.

Maxwell, 40, was elected as DVRPC Board Chair to serve for fiscal year 2025, and in this role, will oversee an 18-member board that represents the nine-county Greater Philadelphia region.  In addition to defining the duties of the Office of the DVRPC Executive Director and DVRPC committees, the Board establishes regional transportation policies, and determines transportation priorities and the allocation of transportation funds to meet those priorities.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Commissioner Maxwell, and I look forward to his leadership as we work together to realize our vision for a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable region,” said DVRPC Executive Director Ariella Maron. “As DVRPC Board Chair, Commissioner Maxwell will continue to foster cross-county and bi-state collaboration to address the myriad transportation, environmental, and economic challenges facing us and move our region forward.”

“It’s my firm commitment to ensure that Southeast PA, Pennsylvania’s economic driver, receives its fair share of transportation funding,” said Maxwell. “Equally important is our responsibility to spend this funding in the most efficient way possible.

“I am honored to be elected as DVRPC Chair for the coming year and look forward to working with staff and fellow board members to advance transportation projects and attract Federal funds for public transportation projects that are crucial to our region,” he added.

Tim Philps, Executive Director of the Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC) said,  “The Board of Directors of TMACC are excited that Commissioner Maxwell has been elected Chair of DVRPC.  He brings to this role a broad perspective of public policy knowledge, especially in health and human services.  As we address the multimodal needs of residents, nonprofit service organizations and employers, we are able to have deeper conversations about the needs of people to improve the quality of life.

“Josh has been a staunch supporter of access to public transportation and trails, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and well-informed land-use planning, while recognizing the need for highway improvement to support regional economic growth,” added Phelps. “His leadership and vision as a TMACC board member have been invaluable to us, and we look forward to his continued impact in our region as chair of DVRPC,” he said.

The DVRPC was formed in 1965 to provide comprehensive, coordinated planning for the orderly growth and development of, initially, southeastern Pennsylvania and, later, southern New Jersey.  The region includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania, and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer counties in New Jersey.  An interstate, intercounty and intercity agency, DVRPC is an advisory agency focusing on regional policy and capital funding issues for transportation, economic development, and environment and land use.

(This article first appeared in Broad + Liberty.)

The nonprofit trying to persuade local governments to sue “Big Oil” producers for damages allegedly caused by climate change has been making steady advances to Chester and Delaware counties, according to an email provided to Broad + Liberty.

The revelation comes just two months after the Bucks County Board of Commissioners announced it would sue major oil producers like BP, Chevron, Exxon, and others, arguing that the companies knew for decades that their products would cause climate change yet took no action. Several days after the announcement, the only Republican on the three-person board, Gene DiGirolamo, withdrew his support for the suit.

Indeed, it appears as if the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) was eager to use its success with Bucks County as a springboard.

Bucks County became the first local government in the commonwealth to take up the kind of suit that first began to sprout up about a decade ago. For example, in 2016, San Francisco and some other California municipalities sued longtime oil producers. Bucks County is being represented by the law firm DiCello Levitt on a contingency basis, meaning the county does not pay the lawyers unless the lawyers win the case.

In an email sent March 18, 2024, a senior political associate for CCI emailed Delaware County Councilmember Christine Reuther, and cc’d Bucks Commissioner Bob Harvie, both Democrats.

“My name is David Zeballos and I’m with the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI), a nonprofit that helps elected officials and their communities hold oil and gas corporations accountable for the massive costs of climate change. I’ve met with a number of folks who have told me about the southeast PA regional call that you are now leading! That includes Council Member Elaine Schaefer, Commissioner Bob Harvie, Commissioner Josh Maxwell, and Commissioner Marian Moskowitz, who all expressed support about the work CCI does,” Zeballos wrote.

“Do you have any availability for a 30 min Zoom meeting to talk about our work in Pennsylvania and areas for collaboration?” Zeballos wrote later in the email.

The Center for Climate Integrity is a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit that says its mission is to “educate communities and elected officials about the role of polluters in causing climate change and the need to hold polluters accountable for their actions.”

A spokesperson for Chester County said no action is imminent, but noted that could change.

“Chester County is not considering a similar lawsuit at this time,” spokesperson Michelle Bjork said. “However, we will continue to monitor any developments in Bucks County’s case and will reevaluate as needed.”

“Chester County’s commitment to protecting the environment and our residents is demonstrated by our efforts to preserve more than 30 percent of the County as permanently protected open space and we will continue to explore all avenues to safeguard our community,” Bjork said.

Requests for comment to Delaware and Bucks counties were not returned. A request for comment to CCI was also not returned.

Delaware County already has something of an established relationship with CCI. County Council Chair Monica Taylor (D) is listed as a member of CCI’s “leaders network” and recently participated in the press roll out of a major CCI study.

In November, Taylor rattled her rhetorical sword about the need to punish oil producers in a Politico article.

“I agree that it’s not fair for this burden of addressing climate change to fall only on our residents,” Taylor said. “Polluters should and must pay.”

Yet the politics of oil are very different between Bucks and Delaware counties. In Delaware, thousands of people are employed in the industry at places like the Marcus Hook LNG terminal.

Counties do receive annual payouts from Pennsylvania’s “Act 13” of 2012, commonly known as the “impact fee” imposed on “unconventional” gas wells and distributed to counties and municipalities to help them maintain the environment, or to offset the wear on infrastructure from oil and gas drilling.

For example, for the five years from 2019 to 2023, Bucks County received $2.76 million from the impact fee, even though there are no active wells in the county. Delaware County took in $2.45 million over the same period, according to a state website devoted to Act 13 revenues and disbursements.

The impact fee delivered $179 million across all governments in the commonwealth in 2023.

In Western Pennsylvania, CCI gave a presentation in April on “climate accountability” to an environmental subcommittee of the Allegheny County Council. At the time, a council member said it would be premature to assume the county would sue oil producers.

Some of the initial lawsuits against Big Oil have already failed. In 2019, a New York judge ruled in Exxon’s favor, but as is often the case, the message of the ruling was nuanced, with Justice Barry Ostrager of the New York State Supreme Court writing, “this is a securities fraud case, not a climate change case.”

Other cases remain in progress, and, “[t]he number of climate-related cases against Exxon continues to grow,” the Wall Street Journal recently reported.

“In February, the city of Chicago sued Exxon and other major oil companies alleging they deceived Chicagoans about climate change. In March, Bucks County, Penn., filed a similar suit. The Center for Climate Integrity, an environmental group the Rockefeller charities helped create, swayed officials in both places to bring the suits.”

IRS filings show CCI is predominantly funded by the Rockefeller Family Fund, the philanthropic endeavor established by the legendary New York family whose business pursuits in the earliest parts of the 20th century produced Standard Oil, the petroleum monopoly whose most prominent corporate successor is Exxon.

The Journal also reported that the Rockefeller Family Fund “influenced President Biden’s decision in January to pause approval of new liquefied natural gas exports,” — a decision that touched off bipartisan condemnations in Pennsylvania, the nation’s largest LNG exporter.

“While the immediate impacts on Pennsylvania remain to be seen, we have concerns about the long-term impacts that this pause will have on the thousands of jobs in Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry,” Democratic U.S. Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman said in a joint statement. “If this decision puts Pennsylvania energy jobs at risk, we will push the Biden Administration to reverse this decision.”

Numerous other politicians, including many Republicans, and associations also heavily criticized the Biden LNG “pause” — something that could easily become an issue in the presidential election this year if circumstances continue to make Pennsylvania a crucial battleground state.

The email cited in this story was obtained via the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law by the nonprofit organization Government Accountability and Oversight. A database search of nonprofit tax filings did not reveal any significant grant donations to GAO in order to be able to characterize its funding.

(From a press release)

The Chester County Sheriff’s Office is excited to announce the hiring of five new deputies and the promotion of a Deputy to Corporal

The office welcomed Deputy Nicholas Fernandez (recipient of the Police Academy’s Physical Conditioning Award), Deputy Angel Chimal Rodrigues (recipient of the Police Academy’s Academic Achievement Award) and Deputy Ernesto Pinda, who have completed their training at the Delaware County Community College’s Police Academy and have demonstrated exceptional skills and dedication to law enforcement. Also, we are pleased to announce the hiring of Deputy Brett Popiny, who joins us from Telford Borough Police Department with over a decade of experience in law enforcement and Kiri Burgos, who has been with the agency for two years, being promoted from Security Operator to Deputy.

Kelly McGonigal, who has been with us for four years, has been promoted from Deputy to Corporal. Their promotions reflect their dedication and contributions to the mission and vision of the Sheriff’s Office.

Since the new administration took office, we have hired 20 new staff members. Furthermore, the office has implemented an aggressive recruitment and retention plan to continue attracting the best deputies in the county, as well as expanding our digital presence to recruit via social media, ensuring we continue to reach a broader and more diverse pool of candidates.

Added Sheriff Kevin Dykes, “In spite of the challenges we face both locally and nationally with law enforcement hiring, I am extremely proud of our agency’s commitment to staffing the best deputies in Chester County. I am delighted to welcome our new deputies and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in ensuring public safety throughout the county.”

(From a press release.)

The Republican Committee of Chester County (RCCC) convened on Tuesday for its biennial reorganization meeting, where the election of officers took place. Raffi Terzian, M.D., the current RCCC Chairman, ran unopposed and was reelected, continuing his leadership along with a strong and committed slate of officers.

The newly elected officers are as follows:

· Executive Vice-Chair: Ted Murphy

· Vice-Chair: Paula Tropiano

· Treasurer: Barbara Spall

· Financial Secretary: Beverly Pancott

· Secretary: Lin-Marie Salvato

· Assistant Secretary: Jonathan McGrath

Dr. Terzian expressed his gratitude and said he was honored to continue serving with such a highly qualified team. He thanked the committee for placing confidence in him and his team to continue leading the RCCC and Chester County Republican Party forward.

Dr. Terzian also emphasized the significance of unity within the party.

“We must stand together, united in our focus and purpose as Republicans, to ensure the success of our entire slate of candidates this fall.”

This reorganization marks a significant step in the ongoing rebuilding efforts of the RCCC. Under Dr. Terzian’s leadership, the committee has been focused on revitalizing its structure, enhancing community engagement, and strengthening grassroots efforts. The team is committed to sustaining this progress, working tirelessly to rebuild and enhance the RCCC’s impact throughout Chester County.

(From a press release)

After serving nine years as Chester County commissioner, Michelle H. Kichline joined Lamb McErlane PC as an of counsel attorney.

Kichline will focus her practice on municipal and government law, as well as litigation. During her time as commissioner, Kichline served as the Chair of the board and the chair of the county Election Board.

She developed regional planning expertise while serving on the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) and garnered experience in transportation related issues as a board member on the Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association (GVF) and Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC).

Her service as a board member on both the Delaware River Port Authority and on the Regional Advisory Committee III for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) give her valuable insight into multi-state governmental operations.

Her work as a board member of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) has broadened her knowledge of all aspects of county government. Her time as both chair of the Tredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors and the chair of its Zoning Hearing Board makes her one of the few attorneys in the region with local, county and state government experience as an elected official.

“I know Michelle had multiple suitors, and am thrilled she chose to join us,” said Joel L. Frank, Lamb McErlane’s chairman and managing partner. “There are not many attorneys who possess the diversification and sophistication of experience that Michelle does. Those attributes certainly will serve our clients well.”

Kichline’s leadership in the business and transportation communities has been recognized by multiple organizations. Kichline received the Leadership Award for Elected Service from the Greater Valley Forge Transportation Association; the Senator Robert J. Thompson Public Service Award from the Exton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Helena Devereux Women in Leadership award from the Main Line Chamber of Commerce.

“I am eager to continue my career with Lamb McErlane, one of the most well-regarded law firms in the region. I am looking forward to bringing my unique perspective and knowledge to assist the firm and its clients, as well as continuing my community and regional involvement,” remarked Kichline. Kichline attended the University of Pennsylvania for undergraduate studies and earned her JD from Beasley School of Law at Temple University.

Lamb McErlane PC is a full service regional law firm based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with additional offices in Philadelphia, Newtown Square, Oxford, Exton and Mount Laurel, N.J. The firm has 48 attorneys and it offers an environment focused on personal attention and results. Bringing the sophistication and experience equated with large, metropolitan firms, Lamb McErlane’s offers a highly efficient, goal oriented and focused approach.

Danelo Cavalcante, whose two-week escape from Chester County Prison had county residents on high alert, faces more charges related to his time on the lam.

Attorney General Michelle Henry announced several new charges against Cavalcante, a Chester County Prison inmate who escaped from prison on August 31. The charges, filed by the Pennsylvania State Police, regard Cavalcante’s activities during the two weeks he was on the run from authorities. The Office of the Attorney General will prosecute the case.

Investigators allege that Cavalcante stole items to help him change his appearance, a getaway vehicle, and a rifle with ammunition. Members of the state and local police, county detectives, the U.S. Border Patrol, and other law enforcement officers sought Cavalcante day and night until he was captured on Sept. 12.  A Border Patrol K-9 named Yoda clamped down on the fugitive as law enforcement closed in.

Cavalcante, 34, was serving a life sentence in prison for the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend and awaiting transfer to a state prison when he escaped from Chester County Prison. He had also faced murder charges in his native Brazil, officials said.

According to the new charges, he burglarized two homes in Pennsbury and South Coventry townships, stealing the firearm, clothing, and a shaving razor. He is charged with stealing a Ford transit van from a dairy in Pocopson Township.

Residents were outraged after learning that another prisoner used the same method of crab-walking up two walls to a roof to escape the prison in May.  Under the leadership of acting Warden Howard Holland, the prison is stepping up security measures and will be enclosing the exercise areas to prevent further escapes.

And, although some of the Chester County Republican candidates seized upon the escape to question their Democratic counterparts’ competence, that failed to secure election wins in November.

“The defendant used all means necessary to escape from prison and stay hidden from authorities. These offenses aided his efforts and elevated his threat to the public,” said Henry. “Thanks to the diligent efforts of law enforcement, Cavalcante is in custody and will be prosecuted for all of his crimes. My office is committed to keeping Pennsylvanians safe and holding those accountable who jeopardize the public’s well-being.”

On Monday, officials charged Cavalcante with 20 offenses, including felony counts of burglary, criminal trespassing, theft, and possession of a firearm. He is expected to be arraigned on the new charges on Friday.

“The new charges against Cavalcante speak to the lengths he went to in his unsuccessful efforts to elude law enforcement,” said Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens, Pennsylvania State Police Deputy Commissioner of Operations. “We appreciate the Office of Attorney General’s work in prosecuting the case and remain thankful to the residents of Chester County for their support during the search and to our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for their assistance.”

District Attorney Deb Ryan ssaid, “The defendant caused a nightmare for the residents in this county, and he must be held accountable for his actions. Hundreds of law enforcement officers worked around the clock to ensure his capture and they were successful because of their hard work and dedication. The greatest outcome here was that no one was injured, and the police did an outstanding job keeping us safe. My office got justice for the Brandao family after Deborah’s murder and the Attorney General’s Office will get justice for the other residents he victimized.

All charges are accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, officials said. Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Phillips is prosecuting this case.

Cavalcante is being held at State Corrections Institute Phoenix in Skippack.

(from a press release)

Chester County marked the start of Operation Green Light this week with a ceremony honoring the county’s 24,000-plus veterans, held in front of the County’s Historic Courthouse.

Operation Green Light recognizes the sacrifices of veterans nationwide, shining a green light to show that veterans and their families are seen and appreciated.  Chester County joins counties across the U.S., and from November 6-12 the Historic Courthouse will be illuminated in green.

The Chester County Department of Veterans Affairs and Coatesville VA Medical Center encouraged residents and businesses in the county to add their support for Operation Green Light by replacing a porch light or lamp with a green light bulb.  Through a donation by Walmart, thousands of free green light bulbs were available to help with the support.

Speakers at the County’s Operation Green Light event included Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz and Josh Maxwell; Jim Oram, Chair of the Chester County Veterans Advisory Council; Devin Hill, Chester County Veterans’ Service Officer; Jennifer Harkins, Director of the Coatesville VA Medical Center; Andrew Lippert, Decorated Veteran and Congressional Aide for Rep. Chrissy Houlahan; and Dawn Young, Market Manager for Walmart.

For more information on the programs and services offered to veterans and their families by the Chester County Department of Veterans Affairs.