Updated: Convicted West Easton Constable Rejects Probation, Wants Jail Sentence Instead

Judge Stephen Baratta yesterday imposed a 12-month probationary sentence on West Easton Constable Tricia Mezzacappa for lying to Pennsylvania State Police in an attempt to frame a black neighbor with pointing a gun at her head. A jury found her guilty in March of false reports, a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of 12 months. Although I was at the sentencing, I'd have to say the account written by Ed Sieger for WFMZ is an excellent and neutral report. Unfortunately, Mezzacappa has decided she'd rather be in jail.

She just proved she's cuckoo for cocoa puffs.  

The Preliminaries

I was accosted by Mezzacappa yesterday as I made by way down the hallway and to the courtroom. The second she spotted me, she began shouting that I'm a "mother-fucking scumbag" and worse. I told her to watch her language and walked into Barattadom. 

Judge Baratta was going through a few continuances, which he reluctantly granted. He also approved a settlement agreement between the parties in  a divorce action. I was surprised that neither the Husband's lawyer, Husband nor Wife stood while addressing the Court. 

"Show some respect, people!" I wanted to shout. But that would be disrespectful. 

Then there was a brief pause in the action, with Judge Baratta saying, "I'll be back."  That was a perfect opportunity for me to take a bathroom break myself, something I've been doing increasingly as I wither from virile specimen of manhood into old fart. Unfortunately, Mezzacappa spotted me again and began yelling as I returned to the courtroom. 

"Careful, she might gouge your eyes out!" one lawyer warned me. "I think she's absolutely right. You really are a scumbag," added another.

I had no desire to be there. It was unpleasant. But Mezzacappa is a constable who was convicted of false reports in an attempt to frame a black man. It's part of a disturbing pattern of racism from her that I've chronicled over the past decade. I think there's a bit of implicit bias in all of us.  Her behavior, however, is that of an overt racist. These people should be exposed, especially when they hold law enforcement positions.. 

Judge Baratta Reviews Probation and Psychological Evaluations

After Judge Baratta returned to the bench, he summarized some of the information supplied to him, both from the Probation Office as well as a psychological evaluation performed by Dynamic Counseling's Dr. Elizabeth Johnson. 

Baratta noted that Mezzacappa is highly educated, with finance degrees from Fordham and Rider, as well as a nursing degree from Northampton Community College. But he noted her job history has demonstrated instability. She has held 25-30 jobs since 1992, and was fired or quit from most of them. She told probation officials that her employers were guilty of mismanagement, corruption and antagonistic behavior. 

The Judge went on to observe that Mezzacappa lost both of her parents to cancer. She had a good relationship with them. She is at odds with her sister, whom she said is "dead to her." She is currently involved in litigation with her sister in New Jersey over her mother's estate. 

The prognosis from Probation? "Highly guarded," reported the Judge.  

He then went on to discuss the psychological evaluation prepared by Dr. Johnson. That report details a long history of sexual abuse allegations, reports of harassment, a feeling of insecurity and claims of persecution. Dr. Johnson reports that Mezzacappa has very elevated post traumatic stress levels, even higher than those found in VA hospitals. She found these stress levels were "indicative of a person preparing for homicidal and suicidal behavior."

Dr. Johnson recommends therapy, possible medication and a mental health caseworker. 

How about commitment? 

DA Makes the Case for Jail

Assistant DA Abigail Bellafatto, assisted by summer intern Richard Huntington Pepper, made an impressive presentation for some jail time. She first called on Nicole Bealer, the mother of the black man whom Mezzacappa attempted to frame. "Her allegations could have cause a false arrest and the loss of his job," mom observed. 

Judge Baratta said her son was a persuasive witness who has spent years working for Union Pacific. 

Bellafatto agreed with Judge Baratta's assessment that guidelines call for only a probationary sentence. She nevertheless insisted the underlying facts justify jail time. Mezzacappa told troopers they "needed to get that black drug dealer out of the neighborhood." Mezzacappa uses what Bellafato calls "racial rhetoric," including the term "tar baby" during her psychological. Bellafato notes that Mezzacappa now believes she was mistaken about the victim, but "continues to search for a black man to blame for her own behavior." Bellafatto said jail would punish Mezzacappa's "racial motivation" and protect the community. 

Her argument moved Judge Baratta, who agreed "[Mezzacappa's] words suggest there may be a racial component to this." He called Mezzacappa a "defective person." He said he could send her to jail. "How is that going to solve the problem?" he asked. He noted there is no treatment at a county jail, and she would spend her time there "stewing about this." He suggested jail time "feeds into the illness." 

Mezzacappa Keeps it Short

Before imposing sentence, Judge Baratta allowed Mezzacappa to call her sole witness, a black man, who said he never saw her exhibit any racism in the 10 years he's known her. He also allowed Mezzacappa to speak for herself. 

She decided to keep it short because of the "gaslighting nature of this proceeding" and presence of "fake news" (yours truly) in the courtroom. 

She had no remorse.

She did claim "West Easton is a defective borough" in response to the Judge's observation about her.  

The Sentence

As he hinted all along, Judge Baratta imposed a sentence of 12 months supervised probation. This will include individual therapy, a case manager, psychological evaluation, drug and alcohol evaluation, a drug-free requirement, prohibition on firearms and throwing knives and a continued ban on contact with the victims. 

"I don't want to see you again," the Judge concluded. 

He's gonna' see her again. 

Mezzacappa reaction  (posted on this blog yesterday by Tricia Mezzacappa)

To all of the misinformed low life scum buckets who bother to read this blog (maybe 5)

I forfeited probation officially in writing

I am waiting to be re-sentanced

I will not tolerate false narratives, lies, gaslighting, abuse, violence, death threats, vandalism on my property and car, and continued political persecution dealt by a corrupt system of terrified mentally unstable nutbags , who foam at the mouth and misuse public resources every time I ask for public info.

17 page docket for an M3

Deprived of an attorney
Deadlocked the jury
Cooperated 100% WITH PSI

ONLY TO BE DEFAMED, GASLIGHTED AND MISREPRESENTED AGAIN, INCLUDING MY FRIEND AND WITNESS TODAY IN COURT , WHO WAS ALSO ABUSED BY A SICK JUDGE WHO NEEDS TO TURN IN HIS ROBE

I will sit there in jail and record every single act of abuse, date, time, name, etc, call the news outlets, and re-train inmates how to beat their criminal governments so they don't wind up deprived of rights, like me!

Mezzacappa Violates No Contact Provision of Probation

Part of Judge Baratta's probationary sentence yesterday requires Mezaacappa to make no attempt at contact with the victims. She asked for permission to speak with them, but Judge Baratta refused. Well that meant nothing to her. In direct violation of what the Judge told her and made a part of his sentence, Mezzacappa left this note on the windshield of victim's car.