POLICE: Weekly Police Blotter

ASSAULT:
Anthony Fosnaught, 37, of New Brighton, is charged with Assault after an incident on October 9th. According to a release, PSP Beaver was dispatched to an inactive altercation which occurred at the Eastvale Inn. After investigation, charges were filed against Fosnaught for assault after the altercation a 36-year-old male and 33-year-old female from Wampum.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF:
On October 1st at approximately 3:55 p.m. PSP New Castle were dispatched to an area near West Lawrence Avenue, Wayne Township for a Criminal Mischief. According to the police report, Joseph Pounds parked a blue dirt bike on Railroad Avenue and ran onto a witness’s property with a crowbar. The report relates that video survellience captured Pounds running behind the garage and utilized the crowbar to smash the front windshield, driver’s side window and the back left driver’s side window before fleeing the scene. Damages are reported to be $450.00 on the 2018 Ford Escort.

ENDANGERING WELFARE OF CHILDREN:
Michael Yanssens, 34, and Kassey Locke, 36, both of Ellwood City, are each charged with Endangering Welfare of Children and Possession of Controlled Substances after an incident reported on August 18, 2026. According to a criminal complaint police were contacted by Yanssens father stating he owns a residence on Fairview Avenue, Ellwood City, where is son Michael and Kassey were currently staying. Yanssens also related a neighbor had provided information that James Locke, 39, was residing at the area and police responded to arrest Locke on an active warrant. Police arrived in reported area and upon search of the residence found that Locke had been hiding in a hole in the wall in the second floor of a residence on Fairview Avenue. Locke and another party were removed from the wall and were searched. Officers seized two syringes from Locke’s person, and both were filled with crystal meth. Locke and the second party were placed inside the cruisers and escorted to the Lawrence County Jail according to the complaint. Due to the circumstances of the incident, including multiple individuals hiding from police inside the residence, officers conducted a protective sweep of the residence the complaint relates. During the sweep officers observed in plain view number loaded syringes and glass pipes consistent with items used to ingest controlled substances throughout various areas of the residence. The report relates that during the protective sweep of the residence the 8-year-old son of Michael Yanssens and Kassey Locke was located outside the residence. Based on the condition of the housing and presence of drug paraphernalia, Lawrence County CYS was notified.

DUI:
Steven Anderson, 55, of Wampum, is charged with DUI after an incident on October 3rd. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 4:33 p.m, police were dispatched to the area of 810 Vinegar Valley Road for a report of a male asleep behind the wheel in the middle of the roadway. When police made contact with the operator, Anderson was found attempting to conceal a brown paper bag and police observed open beer in the center console. When speaking with Anderston police observed a strong smell of alcohol and asked Anderson to step out of the vehicle and administered a field sobriety test for which he failed. Police later spoke with the complainant who related while sitting on his front porch he observed an SUV stop in the middle of the roadway and that he went to check on the operator who was found with a bottle of Jim Beam in his lap and beer can in his hand asleep. The complainant advised he shut off the vehicle, removed the keys and contacted 911.

DUI:
Brian Bober, 47, of Wampum, is charged with DUI after an accident reported on October 18th. According to a criminal complaint, and at approximately 12:40 p.m., police were dispatched to the area of 2619 Wampum Road for a report of a single vehicle into multiple parked vehicles crash. After investigation it was determined Bober crossed the center lines and drove off the roadway striking the legally parked vehicles and sustained disabling damage to the front end of his vehicle. When police spoke with Bober he admitted to having two beers and had a strong odor emanating from his person and breath the complaint relates. Bober was taking into custody without incident and transported to a nearby hospital for blood draw.

DRUG TRAFFICKING:
Khalis Collins, 30, of New Castle, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand to conspiring to distribute quantities of fentanyl and cocaine from August 2025 to April 2026, and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine on April 1, 2026.

Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for February 18, 2027. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mercer County Drug Task Force, the Lawrence County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Collins.