Bradford man allegedly failed to register
residence
A Bradford man is in McKean County Jail after he allegedly failed to follow his registration requirements under Megan’s Law.
Robert E. Cooper Jr., 46, was arraigned Monday night before District Judge Richard Luther on a single charge of failure to verify address/be photographed.
According to the criminal complaint, on Monday, a Bradford City police officer was asked to investigate a report that Cooper, who is required to register his address under Megan’s Law, had been staying at a Jackson Avenue, Bradford, residence for two weeks.
The officer learned that Cooper’s primary residence that was registered with state police was 1832 Prentivale Road, Eldred, and he had a temporary address of 153 Main St., Bradford, registered, too, the complaint stated.
Upon talking to the woman who lived at the Jackson Avenue address, the officer learned that Cooper allegedly had moved his belongings there. She and Cooper had been dating for a couple of weeks and she did not know that he was on the Megan’s Law list, according to court records.
According to the public Megan’s Law website, Cooper was convicted on Jan. 26, 2006, of aggravated indecent assault, and he was convicted on Aug. 3, 2006, of unlawful contact or communication with a minor. He must register for his lifetime.
Cooper is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for July 14.
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Alabama man
facing firearm, drug charges
An Alabama man is facing firearm and drug charges after a traffic stop Saturday in Bradford.
Triston M. Thompson, 24, was arraigned Saturday before District Judge Richard Luther on charges of firearms not to be carried without a license, a third-degree felony; possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use and possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanors.
The criminal complaint stated that at 4:40 a.m. Saturday, a Lewis Run-based state trooper pulled over a car in which Thompson was a passenger because there was a tail light out. The trooper immediately smelled the odor of alcohol and green marijuana coming from the car.
While looking inside the car, the trooper could see suspected green marijuana on Thompson’s leg and multiple empty beer cans on the floor; Thompson tried to conceal the marijuana inside brown wrapping paper under his legs on the seat, according to the complaint. The officer requested that Thompson get out of the car so he could check his person.
As Thompson was getting out of the car, “He made a furtive movement to the front of his waist band and removed a firearm,” the complaint stated. He allegedly placed the firearm under his seat before getting out.
When the officer asked him about the firearm, Thompson said that it was a loaded handgun that he just purchased. He did not have a conceal carry permit, according to court records.
Thompson is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for today.
