Nephew turned in for suspected theft

SANDY LAKE — A Sandy Lake man had charges held to county court for allegedly forging checks and taking jewelry from his grandparents after being turned in by his uncle, the Sandy Lake police chief, said state police.

Jeffrey James Oakes, 30, of 21 Dunn St., had charges of forgery, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property held to Mercer County Common Pleas Court by District Judge David Fish, Pine Township.

Oakes allegedly wrote checks for $670 and cost his grandparents additional overdraft fees of $155 by forging signatures on six checks, police said.

He is also accused of taking jewelry and trying to pawn it at a Cochranton shop. Class rings, a wedding band and Masonic rings identified by Sandy Lake Police Chief Don Oakes as missing from his parents’ home were found at the shop, police said.

Jeffrey Oakes remains in Mercer County Jail after failing to post bond.

Child’s illness is center stage in custody case

SHARON — A Sharon mother and her former partner were in Mercer County Common Pleas Court Tuesday for another hearing in their custody battle over the 7-year-old daughter they reared together for five years.

Biological mother Jeannette Rowan’s attorney Joann Jofery grilled her client’s former partner of 11 years, Lisa Lewis, over the details of the girl’s autism, metabolic disorders, hypo- and hydro-glycemia and host of other ailments.

Ms. Lewis said the child was never that ill until Ms. Rowan kept the girl and Ms. Lewis apart for about two years, other than three supervised visits more than a year ago.

Ms. Rowan testified that her daughter was far worse when Ms. Lewis was around and has said the girl is extremely delicate both physically and emotionally. Ms. Rowan has said Ms. Lewis was not an active parent and can’t care for the girl.

Ms. Lewis has in loco parentis standing to pursue custody but the case has been refiled three times because of speedy trial rules, dragging it out over two years.

The child is set to be interviewed Friday, as is her pediatrician.

The girl was to have been interviewed last Friday but was sick. Lawyers sparred Tuesday over how serious that sickness was.