One Wingnut Down, One to Go, in 136th State House Race

According to an updated listing of nomination challenges in Pennsylvania, womens' rights advocate Heidi Markow is no longer a candidate for the 136th state house seat held by Bob Freeman. She's the victim of a Court Order removing her from the ballot, probably signed by a man.

That leaves Ron Shegda as the only Republican running. Here's his campaign theme song. How can he lose with a jingle like that?

The Battle of the Wingnuts in the 136th

On April 1, when the LV Conservative Voice Pac next meets to conduct human sacrifices and howl at the moon, perennial candidate and wingnut Ron Shegda has already volunteered "to tell the audience why this is called 'April Fools' Day.'"

No need, Ron, no need.

For those of you on Planet Earth, Ron Shegda is the sacrificial lamb usually sent by the GOP to go up against popular Pennsylvania state representative Bob Freeman in the 136th (Hellertown, Williams, Easton). Trounced in his last two efforts, he does entertain.

Back in 2006, when Shegda first appeared in cyberspace, his website proclaimed "Ron Shegda for Public Office." His ambition was to run for the U.S. Senate now, this year, because he's as wise as a serpent.

"Yet we are wise as serpents and gentle as doves. We will use the power of a Senate seat to defend our nation. Observe the Great Seal of the United States on the back of every dollar bill. The eagle clutches both arrows and olive branch; but it gazes at the olive branch. Will you join this campaign?"

As you've probably surmised, not many did, so now he just runs against Freeman every two years. On the bright side, he's got the support of right wing kooks like Berks County-based state representative (and Governor candidate) Sam Rohrer, a graduate of Bob Jones University. Rohrer actually sends letters instructing judges that Pennsylvania's Vehicle Code only applies to commercial vehicles.

He entertains, too.

Unfortunately for Ron, Domestic Violence Advocate Heidi Markow is running, too. At this time a year ago, she was busily sending me emails about several women who would very soon be killed by their husbands. When that failed to happen, she lashed out at a Northampton County Judge and DA who refused to follow her advice. Then, surrounded by cardboard silhouettes of domestic violence victims and whirring cameras, she called a news conference to request Governor Rendell and the Attorney General to take over a domestic abuse case because she opposed the plea agreement.

Amazingly, when the DA went ahead with that plea agreement anyway, she responded, "We're getting somewhere."

She entertains, too.

Well, Shegda has challenged Markow's nomination petition. She probably thinks it's because she's a woman. They'll duke it out this morning in Commonwealth Court.

Domestic Violence Advocate More Interested in Headlines Than Justice

Surrounded by cardboard silhouettes of domestic violence victims and whirring cameras, Beginning Over Foundation's Heidi Markow was the center of attention yesterday, calling on both Governor Rendell and the Attorney General to take over the wife-beating prosecution of Upper Mount Bethel's Jeffrey Poliskiewicz. Poliskiewicz is scheduled to plead guilty today to seven of eight charges filed as the result of an alleged 2008 assault on his wife. A felony assault charge will be withdrawn, but Poliskiewicz will plead to simple assault, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, stalking and harassment.

That's not good enough for Markow or victim Melissa McShane, who told me during yesterday's news conference that she would only be satisfied by a 43 year sentence. Neither McShane nor Markow seems to understand that sentencing is a judicial, not prosecutorial, function. It's unlikely that a sentence like that would be imposed, even if Poliskiewicz admitted everything. And after yesterday's dog and pony show orchestrated by Markow, I'd be surprised if Poliskiewicz pleads guilty to anything. You see, Defendants have advocates, too, and Markow's stunt may have poisoned would would have been a good result for the Commonwealth and Melissa, the victim of this assault.

Let me give you some background. Poliskiewicz is clearly a wife beater who has victimized all three of his past wives. But he comes into this plea agreement with practically no record of prior offenses, partly because the nature of domestic violence is such that victims are unwilling to pursue criminal charges.

Poliskiewicz undeniably assaulted his first wife, but those charges never went anywhere. When he assaulted his second wife, she agreed to allow him to participate in ARD, a special program for first time offenders in which charges are dropped after a successful probationary period.

This brings us to Poliskiewicz's third wife, Melissa McShane. It's been a very stormy relationship.

February 24 (2008): Two state troopers responded to a domestic violence call placed by Melissa's daughter. At that time, Melissa was reluctant to pursue any prosecution, noting she had only been married for two months and that her husband had never been violent before this incident. Troopers told her about the PFA (protection-from-abuse) process, different women's resources she could use and provided her with a Victim/Witness assistance guide. They also chargedd her husband with summary harassment, but Melissa never appeared at the hearing.

February 28: Three troopers responded to another call from Melissa's daughter. This time the couple was interviewed separately. Both indicated their argument was strictly verbal, and the state police saw no signs of physical abuse. Melissa told them she was leaving to stay with a relative.

February 29: Poliskiewicz and Melissa file dueling PFAs against each other. Poliskiewicz claims Melissa is taking things from his house, and is advised by state police to call his lawyer.

March 17: Melissa asks the Court, in a handwritten letter, to dismiss the PFA. She claims things "get blown out of proportion and we are very sorry to get the courts involved." A copy of this letter is below.

April 2: Alleged assault. There is no report of this incident to any police officer.

April 11: Melissa's dad asks troopers to check on his daughter, and two troopers arrive at an empty house. They learn that Melissa was at the courthouse, and had obtained a PFA based on the April 2 assault. She makes no call to the state police to report she was assaulted and makes no request for police assistance.

April 11: Troopers call Melissa's cell phone to see if she is alright. She returns their call and makes no report of an assault nor does she request to see a trooper.

April 12: Ten days after the assault, Melissa seeks medical treatment. She is ex-rayed and no fractures are diagnosed. She is advised to apply ice to evident soft tissue injuries.

April 12: Melissa calls to report Poliskiewicz driving an ATV through the property in violation of the PFA. She also reports finding weapons that Poliskiewicz failed to surrender to Deputy Sheriffs after a PFA was filed against him. Troopers seize the weapons. They seize Poliskiewicz, too, and turn him over to deputy sheriffs for contempt charges.

January '09: Domestic violence advocate Heidi Markow gets involved. She and Melissa meet with Morganelli concerning the April 2 assault, and he agrees to file charges. Morganelli describes Poliskiewicz as a "serial abuser" who preyed on women at match.com. Poliskiewicz is arrested and imprisoned because he's unable to post $300 thousand bail. Morganelli assigns his Domestic Violence Unit, which he established in 1998, to handle the prosecution.

February 9: Domestic Violence Advocate Heidi Markow issues a news release claiming that police "repeatedly ignored" Melissa's claims of abuse. Markow goes on to claim "police aren't talking even though their silence is a disservice to [Melissa] and the public at large." She commends DA Morganelli.

February 24: Poliskiewicz is depicted as an "online predator" in an NBC10 report entitled "Dark Side of Looking for Love on the Internet." He met his third wife at match.com.

March 23: Markow claims, in a domestic violence blog, that state police reacted to Melissa's story "with indifference -- and inaction."

Yesterday, instead of blaming police, Markow was wagging her finger at Morganelli for ignoring the evidence in a case that he himself filed. Domestic violence do-gooders were also blasting me, on this very blog, for suggesting that Markow seemed to be more interested in whipping up a lynch mob than obtaining justice.

Conclusion

Here's what Markow has really done. First, she has falsely accused Pennsylvania state troopers of indifference and inaction when it's quite clear they were very responsive. Second, she has substituted her own inexperienced judgment for that of professional prosecutors whose job is to achieve justice, not vengeance. Third, she has proved to be quite adept at throwing around irresponsible accusations that leads to headlines in which she gets some notoriety. Fourth, she may have destroyed whatever plea agreement existed between prosecutors and Poliskiewicz, doing a disservice to the very victims she supposedly is trying to help.

Update: Heidi Markow Explains Why DA Not Invited to News Conference About ... Him.
Afternoon Update: The Express Times' Sarah Cassi reports that DA John Morganelli went ahead with the plea deal condemned yesterday by domestic violence victim advocate Heidi Markow. Today, she incredibly claims "We're getting somewhere."

Domestic Violence Advocate Challenges Northampton County Plea Arrangement

Robin Shaffer was shot and killed by her estranged husband three years ago in Quakertown. She never knew her husband had a history of violence or had once before tried to kill his ex-wife.

Robin's sister, Heidi Markow, started the Beginning Over Foundation, a grass roots group to cast a public spotlight on the tragedies caused by domestic violence. She has advocated for adoption of Robin's Law, which would track repeat domestic violence offenders with a statewide registry.

In recent months, Heidi has begun to advocate for specific victims in court, but it appears she has no training. She recently lashed out at a judge and the Northampton County DA for refusing to find Sara Randall's ex-boyfriend in contempt of a PFA order. Sara had seen someone she was unable to identify inside her car and just assumed that person had been sent there by her ex. Randall was a little short on something we call evidence.

After the judge properly refused to find contempt, a petulant Markow decided to call it quits. "I’m stepping down from advocacy." She also slammed Northampton County DA John Morganelli. "I’m done with him."

Apparently, Markow is back.

She has scheduled a news conference on the courthouse steps at 1:30 PM today to demand that Governor Rendell, Attorney General Tom Corbett, Northampton County Courts and DA John Morganelli keep another accused wifebeater, Jeff Polisikiewicz, behind bars. She's bringing his three ex-wives, who aren't too happy with him. He beat each and every one of them. For reasons that totally elude me, Heidi is also bringing someone from Easton Mayor Sal Panto's office. They are upset at Morganelli's decision to dismiss an aggravated assault felony charge in exchange for a plea to seven misdemeanors. Polisikiewicz, incidentally, currently resides at Chez Northampton.

Interestingly, the one person who Heidi failed to inform about this news conference is District Attorney John Morganelli.

I contacted him last night, and he defended the plea agreement. "The plea is an EXCELLENT result for the Commonwealth because it gives the judge optimum sentencing authority to give Polisikiewicz a long sentence if the judge so desires. All the victims will be heard at the plea and sentencing - they can ask for max on all charges!! They are unrealistic because they want a life sentence for the guy or 20 years. That that will not happen, even with a felony conviction. No bargain was made on sentencing -- that is up to judge with input from the victims. The misdemeanor ones carry a max of 5 years!!"

He also told me it would be difficult to get a conviction on an aggravated assault charge. The victim failed to seek medical treatment for ten days after the assault and only had bruising/soft tissue injury. She made no report to police until nine days after the incident. She has told the PFA office, in writing, that prior alleged assaults were "overblown" or did not happen. She asked to have a PFA dismissed. In a trial, she would be crossexamined on her written statement.

I also spoke to Jackie Taschner, the assistant DA prosecuting this case. "I'm a prosecutor, not a persecutor," she told me. While expressing empathy for Markow's dedication to domestic violence victims, Taschner told me she has to consider what will actually fly in court. She mentioned a recent case in which some abuser actually nicked his girlfriend's artery with a knife and she had to be medivaced. The jury would only convict the Defendant of recklessly endangering.

Markow certainly has good intentions. Domestic violence is very real and Heidi does a public service by drawing attention to the problem. But so do prosecutors and judges. I have to question whether she is calling a news conference or whipping up a lynch mob.