SMETHPORT — A Bradford Township man who is on supervision for his conduct during an ongoing neighbor dispute is facing a probation revocation hearing due to allegations of further actions toward neighbors.
Richard D. Yovichin II, 60, appeared Thursday in McKean County Court to answer to a petition to revoke probation that has been filed.
Yovichin is serving an 18-month probation sentence after a jury found him guilty of charges of recklessly endangering another person and propulsion of missiles onto a roadway. The charges stem from an ongoing dispute between him and multiple neighbors in the 600-block of South Avenue.
A trial for a second case against Yovichin for similar allegations is still pending, too.
At Thursday’s hearing, Yovichin was accused of violating his probation on four occasions, two of which he agreed to, two which he did not.
Yovichin, through defense attorney John Thomas, agreed that on June 8, he allegedly took a photo of neighbor Broderick Newman at Valu Home Center in Bradford. Thomas said Yovichin “was beyond five to seven feet” away from Newman at the time he took the photo.
“(Yovichin) believes Mr. Newman followed him to Valu” and was making statements about Yovichin to either an employee or another customer, Thomas explained.
Yovichin also agreed that on June 25, he allegedly moved a dead raccoon he found on the road on a drainage area of neighbor Dave Durolek’s property.
However, Yovichin denies an allegation that on June 4, he spit or made a gesture at Durolek.
He also denies any involvement with a dead possum that was allegedly on Durolek’s property on July 1.
As the defense and Assistant District Attorney Bridget Murphy were not in agreement about what happened, President Judge John Pavlock called for a break in the hearing to see if the two attorneys could come to an agreement about the allegations.
When they returned, Thomas explained no agreement could be reached and he asked for a full hearing where evidence will be presented.
A half-day will be set aside for the hearing. No date has been set.
Thomas further asked that Yovichin be released pending the hearing. He noted that Yovichin has served 38 additional days on the revocation, mostly in isolation due to his “prior employment” — he used to work at the Federal Correctional Institution at McKean. He added that Yovichin has already completed a mental health evaluation, is suffering from health issues and has farm animals at his home that need cared for.
Murphy objected to Yovichin’s release due to the nature of the allegations. She noted that one of the dead animals had “a bullet shot through its head.”
Yovichin is not allowed to possess firearms as part of his current sentence.
Pavlock agreed to release Yovichin on house arrest pending the hearing. He put several restrictions in place.
Yovichin is only allowed to leave for medical and mental health appointments that are approved by the probation department, and he is to stay within the mowed area of his own lawn and within the area where his animals are.
Pavlock gave permission to the probation department to enter Yovichin’s house to ensure he does not have any firearms or weapons.
Yovichin is also not allowed to have contact with any of the alleged victims.
In another matter, Yovichin has been under investigation by the U.S. Postal Service for allegations of threatening behavior toward a mail carrier. Due to the allegations, the Post Office has stopped delivering mail to the neighborhood, and residents there have been going to the municipal building to pick up mail.
In April, at the time mail service stopped in the neighborhood, Yovichin spoke to The Era and said no one has anything to fear from him.
As of a month ago, the Postal Service issue was still not resolved.
