THE CHESTER COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS IS CORRUPT IN OUR OPINION AND WE CAN PROVE IT FACTS
Isn’t it sad in this time of day that we still come across such corrupt District Attorneys, Lawyers, Lower Court Judges as with the Chester County Court of Common Pleas Judge Riley and the pathetic Attorneys that steal clients money only to make a deal and have their case figured out without doing a dimes worth of work? It just amazes me how this is allowed to go on, and I hope to stop, and hopefully with a new President, the corrupt Judges and District Attorneys will not be allowed to get away with it.
The Attorneys who rob the innocent who are under stress, promising them something when they know they already have it figured out between the Judge and DA because they are all friends. Yeah, if I can help it, I am going to put a stop to it, and you know what I love, everytime someone does a search for a West Chester Attorney or Chester County Attorney or by their names Donatoni and Duffy they will see this also, so in the long run, I will hurt these corrupt Attorney’s pockets, even if its by 1% that will make me very happy and save another from having their money taken for nothing, and getting railroaded.
I am going to blog, and blog again, and link to other blogs, because this is not going unoticed!!!!! They robbed my Mother while putting my nephew away for life, and it was a plan, if you wanted to put my nephew away for life, then how dare you take my Mothers life savings, the money from the insurance from the death or her husband who was killed in a hit and run to benefit, just sentence him but don’t rob the innocent who are under stress, and not even prepare a defense while doing it, let them get public defenders, my nephew qualified for a Public Defender, but my Mother put her life savings on the line because the corrupt Attorneys John Duffy and Robert Donatoni promised her the world, they told her that her nephew needed them, and that no public defender would do, well a public defender would have done more. Don’t promise the world, take their money then railroad them, your all corrupt which can be proven, not slander, and railroading Brandon was one thing, but robbing my Mother was another.
We will blog everyday until this is fixed. No more corruption in the Chester County Court System. Oh I love the internet and the power behind it. If I hit your pockets by any amount, I love it, and I will until my nephew gets a fair trial and my Mothers money returned. Talk about white collar crime, Oh, and don’t go to the State Bar, they are worthless, they are all friends, I do not even know why they exist? They always have an excuse, get rid of the State Bar in Pa. We will blog about them next, we are going to blog and blog and blog until something is done!!! We have only just begun, no more hiding behind little selective papers like the Daily Local who only print the good stuff and make the Chester County Courthouse look good, we are bringing it out!!!
check back much more to come!
also read www.chestercountypost.com and www.chestercountyrant.com not rants but www.chestercountyrant.com
Christina Chester County
You also need to link these stories to two of the MOST corrupt in Chester County…that would be Judge James MacElree (who is probably the lowest of them all…more on him another time) and the DDA Steven Kelly. I have personally watched him commit perjury while Judge MacElree led him on….hummm we know the criminals are bad guys, I guess the folks in the justice systems are just barely on the other side of the line. On second thought…they’re criminals too!
Hi We Will, we will give this a post all of its own and link to it on numerous sites, thanks for the input. Please fill us in on Macelree, we would love to have it here for others to read. People should know and be aware, no one is above the law, they try to keep it hidden and they all help each other, but one way or another enough attention will bring it out. Thanks.
The whole Chester County Court system is corrupt in my oppinion. I feel Patrick Carmody should be disbarred for the perjured testimony he coached at my sons trial. I too have a blog set up and I am going all the way to President Obama with it. I won’t stop until someone finally does something to address the fact that they violated my sons constitutional rights, and knew exactly what they were doing, and I have all the proof that is needed
Once the appeal process is over I’ll tell you all about them.
I agree that someone needs to look at the Chester County Court System. While I have not experienced any involvement with the Judges named in these posts, I am aware of some other issues that just don’t seem right.
Seems the Family Court Administrator ( Melanie McAteer, Esq.) purchased a home several years back and held an open house for all of her Attorney and Judge friends. While this may not be a problem – letting the invited Attorney and Judge friends know that she was registers on a store’s gift registry just does not seem right.
This has all the appearances of an impropriety. Did she return favor to these attorney friend gift-givers by offering preferential scheduling or manipulating judge assignments? Were these gifts reported as judical ethics may require?
I’m just saying it sure does not look or feel right.
I agree with you, I do not see how you wouldn’t give special treatment to a Judge or Attorney who just bought you a $300.00 latte maker, per example, but yes I agree, and it doesn’t sound ethical and someone should look into it. I have heard many horror stories about Family Court also, I think someone needs to do a complete overhaul on The Chester County Court of Common Pleas in West Chester they are getting away with way too much and it’s going unoticed. Thats why sites like this are great, it brings it out, because the newspapers wont.
Scarcione should be on that list… how can a judge tell a victim to give her father another chance? This is after he pleaded guilty to assaulting her during a supervised visit while on house arrest.
CYF another joke. It’s all corrupt. I swear my EX must be paying someone off. He beats women and children, and nothing happens to him except a few more months probation. WHOO HOO.. I can’t sleep at night knowing this nut is out on the streets.
Maybe he can fool the “judge” and the “Dr”. of psychology (Mapes).. but it’s only a matter of time before he tries to kill me and our daughter. I keep telling everyone, BUT NO ONE IS LISTENING .
Yeah apparently in Chester County you can rape your children and be out on the streets in less than a year. I know this actually happened and the scumbag wife let the pediphile rapist back in her home to do it again. But my point you can rape your children and walk in less than a years time in county prison, but don’t get caught with pot cuz your going upstate. Could it be half the judges and lawyers are pediphiles themselves? Wouldn’t surprise me at all.
Perhaps we should ask Bruce E. Mapes, PhD he’s an expert sex offender evaluator.
Most people (including myself) know very little about this old case, so why don’t you enlighten us? Google news tells me it involved some people robbing a gas station in 1999, and someone killed Daniel Hess, a truck driver. So, exactly what was Brandon Simmers, who you tell us was railroaded, doing there? What was his role?
Facts about this crime, instead of why you don’t like the lawyers, justice system would help us to understand this. Tell us why the public – who’d want murderers sent to jail should care. Why do you believe he is innocent? It may help if you explain what actually happened. Thanks
To Dave L. there is a full blog coming in the next few weeks detailing this on another site. I will let chestercountyrants know to post a link. Please read correctly first, no where, anywhere does it say Brandon was or wasn’t innocent, its says he was railroaded by the Court System and was, and while he was, there was over $80,000 paid to two corrupt attorneys John Duffy and Robert Donatoni who did nothing for this money. Nothing, they took this money and sold him down the river. Everyone deserves a fair trial to know if they are innocent or guilty, so please read the post before commenting. Much more, facts and truth coming soon. We will keep you posted. If your interested follow up.
All bad things at the courthouse start with judge-shopping. Parties who know judges get to assign their cases to the judges of their choice. officially, the cases are supossed to be assigned on a random basis by a computer. I am fighting on this issue. This is the issue we have to nail down. Pennsylvania state’s judicial elections are also a problem. Lawyers finance these elections and then expect results on their investment.
My daughter who has been haunted bt CTF for the pass 2 yrs, and not only her, but our entire family, somehow needs to be addrressed. It all started that started from false statemeants, and when they couldnt get what they were lookinf for, and until this day I still do not know their game plan, used her post-partem depression against her. Only when it fit into their plan. She didnt know what she was doing or even saying, but on one hand used what she said to their advantage, and at the same time chose not to use other statements at the same time . One sentence was a lie, next sentence was a lie. And at whose exspense other then my daughter,s, mine. We went through their so called program, that changed from week to week. She also was and still is Bi[polar, which was used against her, at their disgersion. I sat out in the waiting room, at American day, and over heared a phone call from a women from CYF Stephenie. The conversation, and this is word for word. ” Stephenie from CYF is on her way over with pappers to give to Amanda, about the removeral, which they already had done the evening before, about her daughter. She can not stay to answer any questions, she has to leave right away. I can not speaak from what was said from the other end, but I was informed she would be staying there and then returning home , from Rover later that afternoon. When I got home, I put a call into American Day, and as I thought, Amanda was going through a chrises, in which the crises center was called, but due to the confusion about all of this, they desided to send her home, which I and also the worker was against, but her hands were tied. When Amanda came home, she was worse then aat anytime I ever saw her. She then threw me down the steps, which later she didnt even remeber. I couldnt blame her. The night before her daughter was taken because CYF refused the DR to write her a perscription, and that same night we went from Hospital to Hospital, but because she was suicdle, no one would admit her , except Pottstown only for 1 night. She had been diag. being Bi-Polar since the age of 12, but now I was a widow, and dealing with all of this alone, with no help from anyone. If she needed help, why not take her and leave the baby with me, but no, that would have been the correct way to do it, and Ive never seen them do anything right going on 3yrs now. They have no interest in keeping family,s together, but destorying, and keeping them apart, through what ever it takes. Finally Amanda came through her depression, with no help from CYF, and then their plan came into full force. She also has ADD, and they kept piling thigs on her to do, when she was struggling from the other tasks they put on her. But she did her best, which was never told wasnt good, at least until later on. I asked for several meetins with supervisures, and then when the time came they were canclled. I wanted to know just what we were up against, but still got an answer. Has fate has it, she was envolved which I called the prediter, He knew what buttons to push, and not only that there was beating from black eyes to broken hands, On her big 1 day visit, when she would leave the room, I told Chidren in Youth, who brought her daughter to see her, and I always thought he would kill her, I told everything I saw and heard. I was trying to protect my daughter the only way I knew how. I was like living in the Wizord of OZ. He had no brains, no heart, and no courage, and she was Dorthey. She was the only one that had it in her power to get the help she needed, but didnt know it. And yes, I was Dorthey, because as many times as he wished me dead, I,m still here. Then she became pregant again, against my wishes. But I do not believe in abortions, so we both new what to look for. She did give her first daughter up, only because the time it was taking on CYF,s rules. Nothing was never good enough, and my daughter, went to a lawyer with me and the other Grandmother. She went home to tell Tony, but he never had any interest in his daughter anyway, and CYF told me, Grand Parents had no rights. She said her daughter was getting older, and that was the onky Mother she ever knew. To me , it took everything she had to do that, but mabey she was getting over all the harm that CYF made her feel that she wasnt good enough to be a mother. But didnt the day after she had her 2nd daughter, in which, I was the only one there, and even cut the cord, call and start to get there hands on her daugher for a 2nd time. Never giving her a chance to prove herself, butshe gave her to my son, until this was over, For some reason, I wasnt allowed to have her. They never interviewed me, didnt know me, but most of all I raised 5 children, and 1 out of 5 with any problem, didnt prove anything to them. I hired a Lawyer and I do go see a DR. for not only my grief, but in 5yrs, I lost my husband, my Mother, and also my dog. It seems, like everything I loved , I was loosing, even my daughter. We go back to court Oct. 19, and I am scared. for our family. How much power do they have. I,m gonna find a lawyer in Philly for lieing about me, and making things twisted to their way. Has anyone else had such a time with this so called org. Who do they really care for, and what is there so called goal.
I have a true corrupt story about the Chester County judicial system. We are going to need people like yourselfs and case number and brief description what happened. Believe me this is not going to be tollerated anymore what is going on down there.
Email me: smalllargejobs@aol.com
Denny,
Give us some add’l information.
Denny
This case involves the murder of Daniel Hesse in Downingtown. My nephew along with three others, one who walked and lied, one who did 5 yrs and lied, and the other the murderer who is doing life also. My nephew who was on drugs, the only one, who tried to stop the murder and who was sick and on drugs, and who also confessed and my family went to the state police because he was sick about this, sick and could not believe he saw his friend, so called friend shoot someone. The detectives had this pinned on Kenneth Tucker we even have documents to prove they were to pick up this innocent black man because they had no clues to the murder, if it was not for my family, a poor black man would have went to jail. Then they had the nerve to say it was good ole police work, no it was my family going to the state police. That is the only way this was solved, they had no clue….
There is alot to this story, but the truth of the matter is Judge Riley, D.A. Patrick Carmody, Attorney Robert Donatoni robbed my mother of her savings and did nothing but railroad my nephew, he did not get a fair trial, in fact they set him up, and they knew what they were doing. They should have been honest and let a public defender do this for free, they should have never took this money knowing they were not going to even try to prepare a defense. Judge Riley should be removed from the Court as well as Patrick Carmody. Yes only the Attorney robbed my mothers life savings, but they all conspired together and knew it. Anthony Sarcione at the time was as much at fault, he didn’t want the facts, just an arrest as this was high profile and in Downingtown. In our eyes what they did was criminal and theft by the Attorney for a job not done.
I do not know where to begin, so much, but you talk about corrupt and miscarriage of justice. Our family member had a right to a fair trial, we are not talking guilt or innocence here, just a fair trial which in America I thought that is what your entitled to. To make a long story short, here is a quick list.
1. Robert Donatoni who was paid $35,000 up front promised the world then set him up along with Judge Riley and Patrick Carmody. This was a well thought out plan from the beginning. What a joke.
2. He did nothing, nothing, he called no witness’s for my nephew, many wanted to go to trial with him. He never, ever, even went to the prison to talk and prepare a case for the $35,000 we paid him, he sent his assistant who went once. How do you prepare such a serious case without talking to your client, he did not visit or prepare a case.
He lied under oath saying my nephew was convicted of a burglary of someones home to the jury, when in fact this was an out and out lie, my nephew was caught stealing cigarettes with a group of kids while a juvenile, never, ever, a burglary, this scared the hell out of the jury. This is his Attorney, did on purpose helped railroad him. I could go on and on and on about Donatoni, we will do that at another time. He was worthless, took my Mothers money and did nothing. Plus he was going through a nasty divorce and was always pacing around, sniffling, and drinking, I smelled alcohol on several occasions, worse things I believe but can not prove yet.
3. Judge Riley lied in closing, actually lied to the jury in closing, they came back out with questions, confused, and he lied again. He allowed things he knew were wrong, made up things in his closing to scare the jury.
I saw through Donatoni right away and wanted him fired and my Mothers money refunded, Judge Riley told my nephew, “No Way, we have a schedule to keep, if you fire him we will move along with or without an Attorney, Judge Riley rushed a serious trial from jury selection to finish in 2 1/2 days. This is just the tip of the iceberg, so much more corruptness went on.
4. The D.A. Pat Carmody and Susan Fields kept saying they may need the family as witness’s , so they kept most of family out during trial to make him look pathetic, like he had no one. They tricked him into a phony proffer to get info, then when got what they wanted took it off the table and said they didn’t believe him. Brandon wanted to talk to us before he was to meet with them, Donatoni lied and said we could not be reached, he never called us, we had caller id and an answering machine. They brought him in for a phony proffer and then screwed him and used it against him . They added things, made things up, changed things, corruption at its best. There is way to much to get into on this blog.
They railroaded my nephew for a high profile case, if it was not for my nephew they would have arrested Kenneth Tucker who they had pinned for this and the poor man was innocent, and they would have made it stick.
We also have a letter Robert Donatoni sent us before Tammy or Brandon were even sentenced saying it’s crazy of us to expect lesser of a sentence for Brandon when Tammy is getting 5 years. THATS ILLEGAL, HOW DID DONATONI KNOW WHAT TAMMY WAS GETTING SENTENCED TO, THIS DID NOT EVEN HAPPEN YET. YEAH THE WHOLE BUNCH TOOK CIVIL RIGHTS RIGHT DOWN THE TUBE AND WE ARE NOT DONE YET, WE HAVE NOT BEGUN.
We have proof, documents, more, you can see more at chestercountyrants link chestercountysfinest in the sidebar. This goes so much deeper, and there is so much more, to much to get into here.
WOW, it sure sounds like a set-up and all the key players were involved. I again say that our little backwards Court system needs to be take over by the Department of Justice and the players kicked the hell out.
It is surprising to me that the crazy things that happen in our county can continue and go un-noticed. This system is such a country club and good ol boys network that justice can not be had. I would not be surprised if some ofte publicoffcials are getting their palms padded with lots of cash.
There is NO, I repeat, NO justice to be had in Chester County. Even the decent attorneys in this county will tell you that. The crapy attorneys say the very same. In order to get any justice you need to find an attorney that from Philadelphia who is willing to confront the system without fearing getting blacked balled in the County.
I have a story about this corrupt judicial system that will blow everyone mind. There are soo many corrupt lawyers out there! We need to end this some how! All they do is take your money or want money to not put you in jail for a crime you didnt commit!
Email me your story and I will get back to you! I need as much help as we can get to stop this horrible judicial system taking place!
Here is a way to make these judges expose themselves and reveal just how corrupt they really are, then you will have convincing evidence to demonize them in the public eye >>> http://amurderconspiracy.wordpress.com/ <<<<
Chester County court system, reminds me of something you wou;d find in the 3rd world, Except for the elaborate courthouse they wasted millions of dollars on.
I’m really interested in this apparent corruption but none of these posts puts forth a coherent/detailed argument as to its existence. I am willing to believe you guys and want to start pulling the threads to unravel this thing, but these posts are incredibly frustrating to read; poorly written and uninformative. Christina you keep saying “too much to get into here” and “this is just the tip of the iceberg” but if you want to draw support to your cause why not take the time to lay out the entire story/theory/argument from the beginning in an organized narrative?
Sort of sounds like something our very own Chester county district attorney would say – find as many ways to avoiding the possibility that there is a problem with our Court. Its tough to see a problem when you’re a major part of the system thats broken. I’m sure that the Da’s office in the county where those rotten judges were on the take didn’t see that there was a problem in their county either.
Many us know that there is a major problem with the family
court system and the use it’s so called expert Bruce E. Mapes, PH. D. Rather than rejecting the possibility that a problem exists in our County, the DA’s office should open it’s mind to the possibility that at least one so called expert has goen to the other side.
Come on fool, I am agreeing with the possibility there is something wrong, not avoiding/deflecting from it.
a. No listening hear- just reading.
b. I am a 23 year old chesco resident, a victim myself of the court right now (i.e. drug court for marijuana)and in no way connected to the interests of the court.
c. You are not responding to the content of my post, fool… I said I am WILLING, even EAGER, to believe the charges of corruption.
d. this is not about Mapes or family court but about criminal court…the mapes argument has been made very clearly and coherently on other pages and I hope something can be done about him. If you people cannot organize or act beyond this forum, that’s YOUR problem.
e. The question was regarding the allegations of baiting perjured testimony/railroading/the simmers case. I would like the argument laid out…i.e. who.what.where.why.when.how. I would like to see the links made//suggestions as to the motives for corruption (what are the links between DA, defense attorney, judge, police…what is their endgame, what are they gaining?). Without contextualization it is difficult for me to gain much from the allegations in these posts (and again I WANT TO HELP EXPOSE THE CORRUPTION THAT I BELIEVE EXISTS)
f. Why not respond to my post directly rather than using it as a launching pad for a generic and worthless rant…
I would like this responded to: Christina you keep saying “too much to get into here” and “this is just the tip of the iceberg” but if you want to draw support to your cause why not take the time to lay out the entire story/theory/argument from the beginning in an organized narrative?
Just flesh it out ppl, lay out the allegations in a coherent manner so that people like me, who are completely ignorant as to what youre talking about, can attempt to understand and take action.
I understand you guys are upset and it makes it difficult to write dispassionately and with a clear head about these issues, but if you would like to be taken seriously, that’s what needs to happen.
and of course i look like a fool by spelling “here” as “hear”… karma
J
I just saw this post, I do not come on here everyday… anyway, where should I start.
First, Brandon’s own Attorney, Robert Donatoni, did nothing, nothing at all..He took $30,000 dollars from my family and did nothing. He never visited Brandon to prepare a case, he sent his assistant to the prison one time, one time, to prepare such a serious case..What kind of Attorney visits his client one time to prepare such an important case ???? He did nothing…and when we brought this to his attention he kept whining about going through a bad divorce, and having a tough time, and he would smell of alcohol….the list goes on and on, his Attorney was his worst enemy, and took $30,000 to do it.
When Brandon asked for another Attorney and wanted time to find one, Judge Riley told him, quote ” We have a schedule to keep, you are going to trial with or without him..” and like I said this all goes alot deeper..so Brandon was stuck with him or nobody. Well get into more of Donatoni later…much more, just trying to give you some facts for now.
Judge Riley, the DA Carmody, and the entire team, lied to the Jury, the victims family, everyone…Our family was the one that went to the State Police, because Brandon was suicidal, he was sick by what happened, he tried to stop this, he had nightmares, our Family went to the police…Yet they lied and said Tammy and Danny (Danny who walked) were the ones that brought this out…They purposely hid the fact Brandon’s family went to the State Police, they had no clue about what happened until we went…
Robert Donatoni and Carmody, lied to the us and Brandon…They offered him a proffer…He wanted to talk to us first, his own Attorney Donatoni told him they could not reach us, and they got him to the courthouse anyway and got what they wanted from him, than took the proffer off the table…Donatoni never called us, we have caller id, and an answering machine..they didn’t want Brandon to talk to us, they lied to get him there and talk and than changed their minds…much more to this…Just filling you in here.
Donatoni, told the jury, we all know Brandon had trouble in his past, he burglarized homes when he was young and went on and on..Well, If I was on the jury and heard that, I would be thinking the worst, Donatoni out and out lied, Brandon Never Ever burglarized a home, he and a bunch of teens took cigarettes from a store when younger, how is this Burglary….Oh it gets worse…My Mom paid Donatoni $35,000 to lie, to make up things, change things…No wonder the jury was confused, and the jury had no idea what the real truth was…
Judge Riley in his Jury instructions said, actually said to the Jury, think of Brandons conscience as he wiped down the gun and cut up the credit cards…NO one ever said this, this never came up in trial, this was not anywhere, except out of Judge Riley’s mouth…
I will be back soon, have to run…Oh, you want the truth, you will get it, these are all facts that can and will be proven…I also know Donatoni did alot of sniffling and snorting, from what I hear he liked the white stuff, I have someone from West Chester who said he sold cocaine to him, and a worker who then worked in the Prothonatary’s office who knew the same….Always, pacing, nervous, he did not have me fooled for one minute…Yes we are all still doing our research, and we will put the facts out..I can not prove the cocaine thing as they right now will not put their name to it…I know it, so I will only talk about what I know are facts…will be back soon.
Just wanted to answer you, and sorry for any typos, typing fast…I will post more soon, have to run for a few minutes.
Oh and sorry for the $30,000 and $35,000 difference, there were other things that like added up to over $5000 grand (yeah right) paper work, etc. His file was only 4 pages in a manilla folder, man that extra $5000 grand covers alot of other work, sorry we didn’t see it…
One more thing, we know nothing about the Mapes case, that is totally different,,,you need to ask the posters there.
Oh and Patrick Carmody knew they were all smoking pot, His star witness, Tammy, Brandons girlfriend was told not to bring this up, to lie, basically again..The witness’s lied and Carmody told them to do it…
They also kept saying they would need us as witness’s so kept us out of the trial the majority of the time, they knew they were not calling us, they already told us that, but they wanted Brandon to not have any family in court behind him, Him all alone, how perfect again..Were we ever called to testify, hell no, they knew that.
Donatoni called not one character witness, no one, nobody, we wanted to talk, he said, who would believe you, your family…Well maybe not, but we have plenty of people that were hoping to be called, who knew Brandon…What would it have hurt ? You call no one !!!!!!!! No One !!!!!
Oh and how convenient, their star witness Tammy, was told to cry, was told to lie, and promised a deal, which should have not been known until the outcome, Yet Donatoni (and we have the letter) said, Quote ” It’s unrealistic for you to think Brandon would get so many years when Tammy is getting 5 ” What ????????? How did Donatoni know what she was getting (well we know how) but he should not have known that, as it was an open sentence..plea, he told us what Tammy was getting way before she went to trial for an open plea…
You got me started now…Let’s go on and on, I have all the facts….
Oh and let’s not forget the one shot, two shot theory, that Carmody came up with…that were both different, 2 separate trials, one said one shot was fired to make it look a certain way, at the other trial 2 shots were fired….Wowwwwwwwwwwwwww they have a way with words and lies…
And let me tell you…Brandon was wrong, we are not saying he shouldn’t do time, just being there was wrong, he is doing 13 years for that, but Life, Life for a person, who was railroaded by his own Attorney and the Judge and DA,,,,He is entitled to a Fair Trial….as I though all were…..
Oh and I can’t forget how the juror on the end the man, and I still know his face, they probably knew and picked him, how this whole trial went, winked and smiled to the family, and DA when we told Donatoni about this, he just shrugged and said, Oh well, really nothing you can do about it…A juror, winking to the DA and Family when they walk in…Come on…
It sure sounds like brandon’s attorney sold him down the river in every way possible. Form the initial interview to the final jury instructions. Donatoni is no new comer to the legal profession and not unfamiliar with how the DA’s office works. He served an an ADA for a number of years. His performance sounds more like a young and timid attorney doing his first case or as suggested in this post had some other motivation for botching the case. He did enough damage that it’s going to make an appeal base on the jury instruction impossible. See below:
In Commonwealth v. Barnak, . . . the Court, quoting from Commonwealth v. Mendola, . . . said: “. . . ‘Where counsel for defendant fails to ask further and fuller instructions or for corrections in the charge, although opportunity is given him, he cannot, on appeal, complain of error in the statement of facts by the trial judge, either on the ground of inaccuracy or insufficiency’” . . .
All of that sounds really bad, good hits against Donatoni and enough to definitely think something is up. What i’m still stuck on though, is why? I’m completely ignorant to court politics… What does Donatoni have to gain from selling Brandon out? Does it save him time? Does it perhaps distract or cover from some other shady business (is he saving his ass by doing the judge/da a favor or perhaps the judges or police or da and expecting a favor in return -?) Is he hoping for a more favorable relationship with the DA/Judge for his future cases? The motive is what’s hard for me (and probably you too since this seems like an insane miscarriage of justice) to pin down. Have you brought your case to any lawyers or politicians who’d be willing to work pro-bono to try to get a pardon? Did you contact Rendell about a possible pardon before he left office? Did you ever confront Donatoni directly about this stuff, or the Daily Local? I think this story needs to be heard, and even if Brandon can’t be saved, it can be a good introduction to many lay-ppl re: the failures of our justice system.
It would seem that if information was knowingly withheld by the district attorney, viz., the girlfriend smoking pot and instructed to not bring it up and the one shot, two shot theory, the juror winking at the DA, the details of the girlfriends sentence before it was handed down, that you should be doing a number on the DA as well. These things are not just and the DA should be held accountable.
J,
Things happen in Chester County that happen nowhere else in the State of PA. I knew an attorney that practices in Chester County and he described this as a cozy club where justice can not be had unless your a republican, have great connection politically or know or know someone who knows a judge. The reasoning for some of the decisions that come out of this Court House are beyond belief. It may have just been Donatoni’s time to pony up his “dues” to stay in the club.
My attorney friend told me one time that the Chester County Bench hates when defendants bring in an attorney from Philadelphia cause they can’t be manipulated – they are not part of the Club.
Trying to get any coverage out of the local paper that goes against out Court House would
Be sure suicide for the reporters and the paper. Story’s that appear in the Philadelphia papers about what happens in Chester County are often time not reported the Daily Local paper. The paper reports nothing of controversy and has never a harsh word to say about the local climate.
When I wrote to the DA’s office concerning Bruce E. Mapes, PhD, the same question of motive was asked. I believe it’s all about money, referrals and finding favor with the bench. In my situation, it is very difficult to find any reason why this court turned a deaf ear. Did I get too close to uncovering a conspiracy between the players, did the DA want to have to retry all of the criminal cases in which this person was an expert witness. It’s justice Chester County style.
I agree that you should seek a very high powered law firm that could offer pro Bono assistance. In order to do this you will have to get the facts and events of the case reduced to a very clearly written statement. You will need to name names, have dates and events clearly outlined. I would see if a local law student could lend a hand or give give you some pointers. often times they can take on something like this as a project but not provide the actual representation.
I will be willing to provide as much support as I can, but understand I am not an attorney. The owner of this post knows how to reach me.
I am Brandons Mother. I can’t say what Donatoni had to gain but what I can tell you is he paid a 10,000.00 referal fee to the Attorney that referred us to him and neither Attorney disclosed this information to us. We only found out through John Duffy after Brandon’s sentence was imposed. It would have made a huge difference had we been told this information. We never would have agreed to hire a Lawyer who hands our money out for a simple referral.
We filed a complaint with the disciplinary committee but they sent our complaint back saying it was up to Brandon to file. Why? He didn’t pay the legal fees, My Mother and I did.
We were also never informed that Donatoni representing Brandon was a conflict of interest. We found this out after the trial as well when the Daily Local published a front page article with him shaking the hand of a Pennsylvania State Trooper. Seems he was their Attorney.
Serious conflict of interest He represents the Commonwealth the same Commonwealth- VS- Brandon Simmers.
I have been devastated by this crime it sickens me and not a moment passes when I don’t think of Mr. Hesse, but this does not excuse the DA’s Prosecutorial misconduct or Donatoni’s ineffective assistance of counsel.
I finally fired the numerous greedy Lawyers who charged exhuberant fees for nothing and I took possesion of all files. I have everything photos, interviews, transcripts everything.
My scanner has not been working and I had to step away from my blog because it was draining the life out of me but I have documents to support each and every allegation I have made.
The Judge The DA’s office and Robert Donatoni were all working together and they are all equally crooked.
I filed a writ of habeas corpus and the Federal Judges accepted it and ordered the DA’s office to answer to the allegations.
They answered nothing they claimed we were time barred for not filing in a timely matter, and that was that they don’t answer to anyone apparently.
We were timebarred, however Brandon was in the hole when his final appeal was denied and he was never informed of this there is no record of him signing for legal mail therefore the time limits should not apply He did file in a timely matter and we are currently fighting to get his appeal rights back.
As I said this has drained me I am broken and I will never be the same. I turned my son in. Danny Jones did not come forward he was caught we were the first to inform the State Police of Brandons involvement.
Brandon confessed to my family immediately and none of us including Brandon could live with this. No one else ever spoke a word to anyone about what happened except Brandon.
I will very shortly scan and post documentation proving everything I have stated here and in my blog.
Something I feel needs to be mentioned. We were cooperating 100% with the Chester County Detectives., But Detective Kenneth Beam took a statement from my Mother then left, He returned an hour later with a handwritten statement and asked my Mother to sign it. I told her not to sign anything until she spoke to an Attorney.
Detective Beam screamed at me to “sit down and shut up”.
I told him “I wasn’t taking orders from him and neither was my mom and that he could get out”.
He then told me” Linton was still on the loose and I could have my head blown off in my driveway” to which I replied ” I don’t care I’m already dead inside”.
His response “well theres an APB out on Brandon and he could be shot while being apprehended”.
I replied “that’s a nice thing to say” and he answered ” well you know he puts his hands near his pocket we think he is reaching for gun”.
My oppinion he is one more Lieing, corrupt, hateful, snake in the grass.
just horrible….don’t give up cheryl, keep spreading your info and find someone who will be an advocate for you, help you in this process.. if i had any legal knowhow or political connections, i’d try to help you out. in the meantime i could perhaps help you write a summary of the entire case to submit to law firms/law students …
Honorable streitel my you know what….I was put in Jail after she denied my civil right along with the DA and the investigating state trooper who all abused their authority I did 8 months for their mistakes. We pay for our mistakes and they cover theirs up by punishing the inocent. I wont give up until justice is served!! keep an eye out you will be hearing about this in the papers.
I read through the complaints. Chester County Court is really currupt, I too have experienced this incestious group of lawyer and Judges. Judge Katherine Platt violated peoples cilvil rights and is connected with the law firm of MacElree Harvey. Alexander Chotkowski and John McKenna are from the same lawfirm and won a case before Platt based on total perjury. The Judge had the facts but ignored everything in favor of her pals.
i think who ever experiences this legal hell know just how bad these people are wrecking lives. How do we hold them accountable? Report them to every review board even if what you report gets rejected. But how do we get help outside of Chester County? I did get a lawyer from Phila also and that does piss off the judges. Keep the fight on, if anyone knows what we can do as a group or one place we can turn to to stop this legal abuse please post it.
Never Hire Robert Donatoni!! My family hired him to represent my sister Monique Robinson who was 18years old when arrested. He railroaded her. He never called character witnesses when we asked. He never filed motions we asked him to file. After we paid him 25,000 his whole attitude changed. He addressed us a you’s people. He took notes throughout the entire trial but still intentionally didn’t argue any main points during the ending argument. When Monique asked him how did he forget if he took notes…he just giggled. He yelled at my mother during trial while the jury was in the room. The weekend before her trail he went to visit Monique’s dad who could barely speak English and asked him to drive with him to the parks Monique hung at and asked “What color people hang at these parks” Monique’s teacher, coach, and another lady named Doleres Winston reached out to him to be character witnesses for Monique stating that the things she was accused of do not fit her character. He said it wasn’t necessary. The list goes on and on. I have a ache in my heart for my little sister. However, I won’t give up. We later found out during Monique’s preliminary in Phoenixville he dropped drugs on the floor and Detective Goggins picked them up. We also later found out the jury was corrupted and placed there not all were randomly picked. However, karma will come back around and Donatoni will reap everything he sewed!!!
I found this page by googling ” Robert Donatoni , ineffective assistance of counsel “. Does not surprise me that attorney Donatoni has been defrauding clients since his bar license was issued. I payed Donatoni close to $20,000 to defend me in a non violent technical probation violation, and I was sentenced to 2 1/2 to 5 years in State Prison. A total miscarriage of justice.Donatoni is nothing but a game show host akin to a snake oil salesman who sold me a lemon. This man put up no defense, didn’t challenge any evidence, presented no character witnesses or mitigating circumstances.My entire life has been traumatized by this jerk,and I will spend every available resource I have to expose his tricks and stop him from victimizing his next potential clients life savings.