Manhunt underway for escaped killer in Pocopson

Danelo Cavalcante A man who was convicted of killing his girlfriend — and is wanted for another murder in Brazil — escaped from Chester county Prison Thursday morning, prompting a massive manhunt in the area around the prison. Prison officials report that at approximately 8:50 a.m., a prison inmate, Danelo Cavalcante, escaped from Chester County Prison. A search of the prison and surrounding area...

Coroner: prisoner death was due to natural causes

The Chester County Coroner’s Office is releasing information on the death of Dimitrios Moscharis. Moscharis, 34, died June 18, 2021 in the Chester County Prison. The cause of death is sudden cardiac arrhythmia due to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), manner natural. Results from two autopsies, one performed by a forensic pathologist for the Coroner’s Office and the other a private autopsy performed...

Coroner to conduct inquest after Chesco Prison death

Chester County Coroner Dr. Christina VandePol will be conducting an inquest into the death of Dimitrios Moscharis on October 21, 2021. Moscharis, 34, died in the Chester County Prison on June 18, 2021. “In-custody deaths demand transparency,” said Dr. VandePol. “The inquest is uniquely suited to that purpose. The decedent was only 34 and had no significant past medical history. We found no evidence...

Chester County Prison receives State Best Practices Award

Chester County Commissioners Michelle Kichline (left), Marian Moskowitz (center right) and Josh Maxwell (right) present the Criminal Justice Systems for the 21st Century Award to Chris Murphy, Chief of Probation, Parole and Pretrial Services for Chester County. WEST CHESTER — Chester County Prison has been selected as state-wide winner, receiving the 21st Century Criminal Justice Best Practices Awards...

Chesco Prison inmates charged with COVID-related benefits fraud

PHILADELPHIA – First Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that twelve Chester County Prison inmates and their accomplices were charged federally with fraudulently applying for and obtaining emergency unemployment benefits related to COVID-19.  The defendants are charged with submitting false applications claiming that the prison inmates lost jobs as a result of...

Man faces ‘dreaded’ heroin charge

Allegedly smuggled drug into Chester Co. Prison in his hair Jarrett Mason POCOPSON — A Philadelphia man may have had one of the all-time bad hair days after reportedly smuggling packets of heroin into Chester County Prison last month, stashed within his dreadlocks, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said. Hogan said that Jarrett Mason was arrested on drug charges in Phoenixville on July 15...

Letter: Chesco corrections officers deserve better pay

To The Editor: Is your health and safety worth more than $34,000 per year? What about the health and safety of your children? Your family? Your neighbors? Your community? Does our community think that a human life is worth more than $34,000?    Send article as PDF   

Guard, 7 others charged with smuggling drugs into Chester Co. Prison

Douglas Keck POCOPSON — A corrections officer at Chester County Prison is being charged with allegedly being part of a scheme to smuggle drugs to inmates, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said Monday. Douglas Keck, 45, of Pottstown was charged along with seven other individuals — including four inmates at the prison — in organizing an operation to smuggle heroin, Subutex (a narcotic...

Pocopson says county should pay share of fire protection

Township objects to prison, Pocopson Home residents included in share funding By Kelli Siehl, Staff Writer, The Times POCOPSON — Township officials say that local residents should not be asked to pay for the fire-protection cost of residents at county-owned facilities, which now threaten to eat up one-third — or more – of the municipal budget, were the township to comply with funding recommendations. At...

West Chester man indicted for alleged FBI threats

Federal authorities say he threatened agents and their family members By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times A 32-year-old West Chester man whose Twitter moniker is  “espionage hacking” has been indicted by federal authorities for allegedly threatening to kill FBI agents and members of law enforcement, a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office said on Thursday, March 12. Justin...