Stepson

A Hagerstown man pleaded guilty Wednesday in Washington County Circuit Court to the second-degree assault of his stepson, earning a 15-month suspended sentence. Jerry Daniel Burchette, 26, of 338 South St., also had been charged with child abuse but the prosecution dropped that charge in exchange for the guilty plea to assault. "There is no history of abuse here," said defense attorney Mary Riley, adding that Burchette went to parenting classes on his own after he was charged.

A former police officer and fire chief fatally shot his wife and wounded his stepson Tuesday evening before killing himself in a home east of Waynesboro, Pa., Pennsylvania State Police said Wednesday. John Fleagle, 50, fatally shot his wife, Cathy, and himself with a handgun, police said in a news release. Fleagle also shot his stepson, 18-year-old Mitchell Robinson, in the arm, police said. No information was available regarding his condition. Law enforcement authorities said they were called to a home at 13878 Mar Penn Ave. near the intersection with Edgewood Drive shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday.

A Chambersburg woman faces charges of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child after her 4-year-old stepson was injured in March, according to Chambersburg Borough Police. Michele Hunter, 26, of East Vine Street, is charged with one count each of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children. The boy's father, William M. Hunter Sr., 25, of 628 Barlow Ave., Deptford, N.J., is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, police said in a news release.

HAGERSTOWN - A 45-year-old Washington County man was ordered in Washington County Circuit Court on Thursday to serve 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges that he made his 8-year-old stepson perform sexual acts with him in 2004. The man, whose identity is being withheld to protect the identity of his stepson, pleaded guilty in Circuit Court in July to second-degree sex offense for sexual contact with his stepson between Aug. 1, 2004, and Aug. 31, 2004, and second-degree assault for sexual contact with the boy Nov. 24, 2004.

Correction Due to a source's error, the obituary in Tuesday's edition of The Herald-Mail for Arvin G. Lidie contained incorrect information. He is survived by one stepson, Joe Swope of Boonsboro, Md. He was preceded in death by one stepson, Doug Swope; two sisters, Dorothy L. Lidie and Hazel D. Mercer; and two brothers, Elvin R. Lidie and Robert A. Lidie.

A Keedysville man charged in January with sexually abusing his stepson waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday in Washington County District Court. The 44-year-old man was charged with two counts of sodomy, two counts of perverted practice, three counts each of second-degree and third-degree sex offenses, continual sex abuse of a minor, seven counts of second-degree assault and sex abuse of a minor, court documents state. He is accused of having a nearly four-year sexual relationship with his 9-year-old stepson.

U.S. Maine Corps Pfc. Nelson T. Velez, stepson of Roger and son of Carolyn Keller of Smithsburg, recently graduated from the Cannon Crewman Course while assigned to Marine Corps Artillery Detachment, U.S. Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Okla. Velez is a 2003 graduate of Smithsburg High School. Marine Corps Pfc. Ryan M. Harshman, stepson of Gary N. Long of Smithsburg, recently graduated from the Cannon Crewman Course while assigned to Marine Corps Artillery Detachment, U.S. Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Okla.

Service news Army Pvt. Tiffany L. Nuice, daughter of Mervin F. Nuice of Williamsport and Shirley A. Willock of Hagerstown, has graduated from basic military training at Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, Mo. Air Force Airman Daryl C. Yost, son of Teresa and stepson of Jesse Lawhorne of Williamsport, has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Yost is a 2000 graduate of Williamsport High School. Pfc. Eugene D. Danfelt, son of David Danfelt and stepson of Kristy Danfelt of Williamsport, and son of Barbara Bent of Sykesville, Md., is stationed with the 3rd Battalion 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, S.C. Army Pvt. Patrick A. Meyers, son of Harry O. Meyers and Myra S. Nuice, both of Williamsport, has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Knox, Ky.

DEC. 1, 1933-AUG. 8, 2009 GREENCASTLE, Pa. - Toshimi K. Bowser, 75, of Greencastle, Pa., died Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at Washington County Hospital, Hagerstown, Md. Born Dec. 1, 1933, in Fukushima-Ken, Japan, to the late Kichizo and Toyo Kisuki. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Dunn Bowser, in 1981. Survivors include stepson, Frederick Bowser of Melbourne, Fla.; sister, Kimiko Kisuki of Japan; sister, Hiroko Yamasaki of Japan; and brother, Tadashi Kisuki of Japan.

Army Pvt. Ryan P. Berger, son of Tina Reeder and stepson of Henry Reeder, of Boonsboro, recently graduated from basic and AIT training at Fort Leonardwood, Mo., where he medaled in Sharpshooting, Grenadesman, Perfect 9mm and Best of the Best. Berger is enrolled for a five-year service with the military police. Berger is a 2001 graduate of Boonsboro High School.

A former police officer and fire chief fatally shot his wife and wounded his stepson Tuesday evening before killing himself in a home east of Waynesboro, Pa., Pennsylvania State Police said Wednesday. John Fleagle, 50, fatally shot his wife, Cathy, and himself with a handgun, police said in a news release. Fleagle also shot his stepson, 18-year-old Mitchell Robinson, in the arm, police said. No information was available regarding his condition. Law enforcement authorities said they were called to a home at 13878 Mar Penn Ave. near the intersection with Edgewood Drive shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Grace Carolyn Smith, 81, of Williamsport, Md., and formerly of Falling Waters, W.Va., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, at Williamsport Nursing Home in Williamsport. Born Aug. 25, 1930, in Martinsburg, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Clyde A. and Mae E. Beard Whitelock. She was preceded in death by her husband, Junior Lee Smith, in 1996. She was a 1948 graduate of Martinsburg High School in Martinsburg, W.Va. She was employed by Washington County Hospital for 20 years until retiring in 1988.

Wilbert D. "Smitty" Smith, 88, of Chambersburg, Pa., died at Clarice C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011. Born May 12, 1923, in Lantz, Md., he was one of eight siblings born to Della Mae and Isaiah Smith. Smitty was married to Dorothy Lou Smith on Oct. 20, 1963, and they celebrated 46 years together before she passed away in July 2008. Smitty is survived by his daughter, Sandra of Davenport, Iowa; granddaughter, Lori (Steve) Elvert of Dixon, Iowa; and grandsons, Robert and John Reed of Davenport.

DEC. 27, 1931-AUG. 17, 2011 Thomas F. Hall, 79, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011, at Fahrney-Keedy Memorial Home in Boonsboro, Md. Born Dec. 27, 1931, in Williamsport, Pa., he served in the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War. He retired in 1987 from Mack Trucks in Hagerstown. Tom was an active member of Elks Lodge 378, Alsatia Club and American Legion Post 42. He is survived by a daughter, Carol Myers and husband, Doug; a granddaughter, Amanda Myers; and a grandson, Zach Myers, all of Hagerstown; a stepson, Kevin Spessard Jr. and wife, Betty, of Hagerstown; a stepson, Brian Spessard and wife, Vickie, of Carlisle, Pa.; six grandchildren; two great-grandsons; and many nieces and nephews.

Two men charged in the death of Vickie E. Clem, the mother of one of the men, and the stabbing of her husband in a violent burglary in May at the couple's Falling Waters, W.Va., area home waived their right to a preliminary hearing in Berkeley County Magistrate Court. Both Joshua L. Stitley, 32, of Hancock and Roy L. Wisotzkey, 33, of Hagerstown are charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, armed robbery and malicious assault, according to court documents. Stitley is Clem's son. Both defendants separately waived their right to a preliminary hearing on the charges without appearing in court before Magistrate JoAnn Overington, who was assigned the case.

Hazel Pauline (Harr) Butts, 76, of Hagerstown, Md., died Sunday, June 26, 2011, at the Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown. Born Nov. 17, 1934, in Hagerstown, she was the daughter of the late Harlen Thomas and Katie Virginia (Kraiglowe) Harr. She was the wife of the late Raymond Leroy Butts, who died May 19, 1991. Hazel was a civilian employee of the Washington County Detention Center in Hagerstown, where she was the kitchen supervisor for more than 20 years. She is survived by a son, Robert L. and wife, Pamela Harr, of Hagerstown; a stepson, Kevin E. Butts of Ellicott City, Md.; a sister, Violet Kemp, and a granddaughter, Holly C. Harr, both of Hagerstown; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

They both like cars, playing video games and doing anything mechanical. It's typical father and son stuff. But their bond isn't biological. They're connected by love and respect. Jeremy Myers was about 12 years old when David Denn came into his life. Jeremy's mother, Karen, met Denn at their place of employment in Frederick, Md., where she was a production planner and he was a prototype engineer. Karen Denn is also a cousin of Herald-Mail Lifestyle Editor Crystal Schelle.

A Chambersburg woman faces charges of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child after her 4-year-old stepson was injured in March, according to Chambersburg Borough Police. Michele Hunter, 26, of East Vine Street, is charged with one count each of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children. The boy's father, William M. Hunter Sr., 25, of 628 Barlow Ave., Deptford, N.J., is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, police said in a news release.

-MARCH 28, 2011 Robert Thomas Kenney, 94, departed this life Monday, March 28, 2011, at North Florida Regional Medical Center. He was a native of Chicago, Ill., and a longtime resident of Hagerstown, Md., where he was a Rotarian and active in fundraising. He was a graduate of Northwestern University and a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Air Force. He served as a lobbyist in Washington for many years, with Texaco. He moved to High Springs, Fla., in 2005 from Palm Harbor, Fla., where he had resided since 2001.

Martinsburg Police on Sunday morning captured the Martinsburg man who was wanted in connection with the stabbing of his stepson earlier that day, according to a police news release. Albert Junior “Bucky” Johnson, 34, of 413 W. Martin St. in downtown Martinsburg, was arrested and charged with malicious wounding, police said. A warrant had been issued for Johnson earlier in the day after his stepson was stabbed in the back Sunday morning, police said. Police responded to the stabbing, at 413 W. Martin St., around 6:20 a.m. Sunday, police said.