CMYK PAGE 6A
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2012
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THE TIMES LEADER
www.timesleader.com
Slashing victim sues bar, owner Man faces trial in 2 counties
came to the aid of a friend who Jennifer Mieczkowski of had been knocked off a bar stool. Nanticoke was attacked inside Nanticoke police have been inthe Prospect Street Café. vestigating the Jan. 1 assault but By TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER tmorgan@timesleader.com
WILKES-BARRE – A woman whose face was severely slashed inside a Nanticoke bar has filed a lawsuit against the tavern and its owner, alleging employees served her underage attacker and did nothing to stop the brutal attack. Jennifer Mieczkowski of Nanticoke says Paul Halliday, owner of the Prospect Street Café, was negligent for allowing into the bar the person who Mieczkowski claims injured her, despite the fact the woman was under the legal drinking age. Police have not identified the woman who allegedly slashed Mieczkowski, but the lawsuit claims she is 20-year-old Melanie Rosario Figueroa of Nanticoke. The suit, filed Friday in Luzerne County Court by attorney David Selingo, claims Figueroa was intoxicated when she and a male, who is not identified, attacked Mieczkowski after she
have not filed charges. Selingo said Friday he does not understand why Figueroa has not been charged because Mieczkowski identified Figueroa from a photo lineup within 24 hours after the assault. “Jennifer is very frustrated. She identified the girl a long time ago and there’s been no charges yet,” Selingo said. Detective Capt. William Shultz said Friday police are continuing the investigation. A video taken from the bar’s surveillance system is now undergoing a forensic analysis at the state police lab in Harrisburg. “When we are ready to make an appropriate arrest, we will make it. These things take time,” Shultz said. Figueroa could not be reached for comment Friday. Michael Yelen, attorney for Halliday, did not immediately return a phone message left at his office Friday evening. A phone number at the bar was not operational when a reporter called Friday. According to the suit, the Pros-
November trial likely for fatal squabble over television sets Sherry Ann Cease said she stabbed John Wolfe in self defense in November 2010.
nal investigator with state police at Wyoming, testified at the preliminary hearing that she interviewed Cease a couple of hours after the fight, and Cease admitted to stabbing Wolfe because he was choking her.
By SHEENA DELAZIO sdelazio@timesleader.com
pect Street Café had been the site of nine incidents involving disturbances at or immediately adjacent to the premises and also had received 16 citations over an unspecified period of time prior to the incident. In order to renew his liquor license, Halliday entered an agreement with the Liquor Control Board that called for him to employ a security guard, provide training and to maintain a list of persons who were barred from the tavern. The lawsuit alleges the tavern failed to keep a barred patrons list. It further alleges employees permitted Figueroa to enter the bar, despite knowing that she was under the legal drinking age of 21, and that she previously had been charged with disorderly conduct for fighting and harassment. Court records filed with District Judge Donald Whittaker show a Melanie Figueroa was cited with three counts of disorderly conduct in September 2010. She was found not guilty of the charges at a hearing held on Dec. 7, 2010. The suit says Mieczkowski was in the bar for only a short time before she was attacked by Figueroa and the unidentified male, each of whom slashed her about the face and head. Mieczkowski’s friend, David Wells, tried to stop the assault. Rather than help him, a bouncer at the club dragged Wells outside the bar. A police report of the incident said Wells was beaten with a pool cue. The lawsuit does not identify who committed the alleged assault against Wells. The suit seeks damages for two counts of negligence against Halliday and the tavern.
In June 2011, Gruenemeier Edward Prues Gruenemeier 2006 and then with his second pleaded guilty to the endanchild in August 2008. Jr., 36, allegedly had sexual In January 2010, the woman gering the welfare of children relations with underage teen. told police, Gruenemeier physi- charge in Luzerne County, but
By SHEENA DELAZIO sdelazio@timesleader.com
WILKES-BARRE – A West Hazleton man charged in two different counties with having a sexual relationship with a teen over a seven-year period that resulted in the birth of two children will face a trial in Luzerne County Court. Edward Prues Gruenemeier Jr., 36, of Tamarack Street, faces a trial on April 9 on one count of endangering the welfare of children. Gruenemeier also faces a trial on March 3 in Carbon County Court on six charges relating to the case, including aggravated indecent assault, statutory sexual assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. According to court papers, the woman told police Gruenemeier began having sexual intercourse with her when she was 13 years old in 2002 and living in North Carolina. The woman told police in April 2011 that Gruenemeier first began inappropriately touching her, and that the abuse progressed into regular sexual intercourse between the two when the woman moved to Lebanon, Pa., and then to Hazle Township. The woman said she became pregnant with Gruenemeier’s child in December
cally assaulted her and that summer brandished a knife and threatened to cut her throat. The woman said Gruenemeier threatened to harm her if she ever reported the crimes to police, and that if he ever became incarcerated because of his crimes, he would “instruct his associates” to harm her. Deputy District Attorney Alexis Falvello said Friday that Gruenemeier has agreed to submit a DNA sample in the case. Judge Tina Polachek Gartley said Gruenemeier will be held in the Carbon County prison until the time of his trial.
then withdrew that plea in September and requested a trial. In a letter written to a Luzerne County judge in August 2011, Gruenemeier said he wanted to withdraw his plea because he is “innocent of these charges” and he was told by his attorney he would receive probation for the offense. Gruenemeier said he had rarely spoken to his previous attorney, and that was also one of the reasons he wanted to withdraw his plea. Gruenemeier now is represented by attorney David Lampman.
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WILKES-BARRE – The trial of a Plymouth woman who claims she stabbed a man to death in self-defense in November 2010 is on track to begin next month, attorneys in the case said Friday. Sherry Ann Cease, 43, of Prospect Lane, faces third-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter charges in the Nov. 30 death of John Wolfe, 59. Deputy District Attorney Alexis Falvello said Friday that a plea agreement could be worked out before that time, Cease but if not, she is prepared to begin jury selection on Feb. 6. A pre-trial hearing was scheduled for Jan. 23. Cease’s attorney Demetrius Fannick and Falvello said they have no motions that need to be decided by Judge Tina Polachek Gartley. Cease’s nephew, Charles Arnold, testified at a June preliminary hearing that when he and his aunt arrived at Wolfe’s Prospect Street home on the night of the homicide, they found Cease’s belongings thrown around. Cease’s things had been packed in boxes because she was staying with Wolfe while looking for a new home. Arnold said Wolfe was upset about his television not working and asked him what was wrong with it. Arnold said he didn’t know. He said Wolfe told him, "That’s OK, because now (Cease’s) TV’s broken." Arnold said he and Cease went upstairs to her bedroom and found her TV smashed, on the floor. Arnold said he heard arguing and, when he went downstairs, saw Wolfe standing in the kitchen doorway with his back to him and his right arm outstretched toward Cease. Arnold said Wolfe’s chest was bleeding when he turned around and Wolfe walked past him toward the front of the house and he then heard his aunt call 911. Trooper Lisa Brogan, a crimi-