County court session canceled over virus concerns

Meadville Tribune - 11/10/2020

Nov. 10--Concerns about COVID-19 has led to the cancellation of the second week of county court's November criminal trial term, which was to be next week.

Crawford County Court of Common Pleas President Judge John Spataro issued the order late Monday afternoon. County residents selected for jury duty next week won't have to report, according to the order.

The rise in COVID-19 cases locally -- including an infection among seven of 17 deputies and office staff within the county Sheriff's Office -- already had canceled the first week of the trial term, which was to be this week.

"The reason for the cancellation is because of the spike in COVID infections," Spataro said in an email to court-related offices about canceling the second trial week. "The highly contagious nature of this disease is so insidious as to compel that we act with the utmost caution."

In canceling the term, Spataro praised the court administrative staff's work to develop and implement precautionary measures to allow a criminal trial term.

"In consultation with our staff, I have reviewed graphs and other data that clearly demonstrate that the infection rate has increased considerably in the last few months and is expected to remain high, if not escalate, as we move into the winter months," Spataro said.

In Crawford County, there have been 741 COVID cases since early March with 54 new cases reported since Friday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The COVID outbreak within the Sheriff's Office began Oct. 27 and staff members affected have been recovering.

Officers from Crawford County Adult Probation have been assisting with security at the county's judicial center while officers from Point Security, a private security firm already under contract with the county, have been handling security duties at the courthouse.

Meanwhile, an employee with the Crawford County Office of Public Defender tested positive for COVID-19, county commissioners confirmed Monday. The Office of Public Defender is in the basement of the courthouse building.

The employee began not feeling well last week and was tested for COVID-19 Friday, commissioners said. A positive COVID-19 test result became known Sunday and notified the rest of Public Defender staff.

"There is one positive in the office and one other person in that office quarantining due to potential exposure," Commissioner Chairman Eric Henry said. "Everybody else has been contact traced."

Commissioners already had scheduled deep cleaning of offices within the courthouse building today and Thursday. Offices will be closed half-days either day for cleaning. Commissioners said it was a precaution due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases and the last building deep cleaning was six months ago.

Commissioners suggest residents coming to the courthouse on business either today or Thursday contact the respective department first to make sure the office will be open.

All county offices will be closed Wednesday due to observance of Veterans Day.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.

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