It’s the last week before the general election, and the Democratic candidate for the District 67 of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat is again reacting to information posted on social media.
Maryanne Cole contacted The Era Wednesday regarding information being shared on Facebook about a June 6, 2017, incident at Walmart in Foster Township. Two non-traffic citations from Foster Township Police, along with the online court dockets for both, were posted in several local discussion groups.
The original citation filed was retail theft, and the charge was reduced to disorderly conduct, said District Judge Rich Luther, when asked by The Era late Wednesday. He said it was not two separate cases, but Lt. Mike Thomas of the Foster Township Police agreed to reduce the retail theft charge to disorderly conduct.
“Yes, I was charged at Walmart in 2017, but once the facts were known the charges were summarily dismissed,” Cole told The Era.
The citation for retail theft indicated that restitution of $13.45 was made to Walmart, and the charge was withdrawn on July 12, 2017. The online court docket indicated she pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of disorderly conduct before Luther on July 17, 2017. The docket indicates she paid a total of $217.95 in fines and costs.
Cole did not immediately respond to an email seeking further comment.
Some of Cole’s supporters have spoken up on Facebook on her behalf, saying it was a misunderstanding involving a self-checkout at Walmart and that the information posted on social media this week was “obtained illegally.”
However, Luther confirmed that all of the information is public.
“Anybody can come in and retrieve a copy,” the judge said, adding that state law prohibits a district judge or staff from asking for someone’s identification or the reason why the information is being sought — or from withholding public information.
“It’s public information and anybody can have a copy,” he reiterated.
Cole is the Democratic challenger to incumbent Republican Martin Causer of Turtlepoint, who has held the state representative post for 16 years.
“I don’t have any comment on my opponent’s criminal record,” Causer said. “The constituents in my district are smart and can evaluate that information for themselves.”
Cole ran afoul of some folks on social media earlier in October when comments she said were made in jest were shared in a video on Facebook. Cole had said that when uneducated people vote, candidates like Donald Trump are elected.
She apologized for offending anyone, saying the comments were taken out of context.
