Charges Reduced Against Woman Who Allegedly Helped Shoplifters

The following is an update on court cases heard by District Judge Gary Zyra on June 20. Zyra oversees Heidelberg and Scott Township.

Charges against a Pittsburgh woman who allegedly helped shoplifters were reduced following a preliminary hearing last week before Magisterial District Judge Gary Zyra.
Scott Township police charged Linda Witherspoon, 47, of Pittsburgh, with obstruction of administration of law after police said she lied about the identity of her daughter, who was charged in a retail theft incident at Marshall's Department Store on May 4.

On June 20, that charge against Witherspoon was withdrawn. A charge against Witherspoon for driving with a suspended or revoked license was reduced to a traffic citation, and another charge for disorderly conduct was reduced to a non-traffic citation.

Charges Waived/Held for Court:

• Charges of retail theft and driving with a suspended or revoked license against Ryan Russell, 29, of Brookline, were held for court. Scott Township police charged Russell on May 7.

• Joshua Cameron, 32, of Beechview, waived to court charges of DUI, speeding, and obedience to traffic control devices. A disorderly conduct charge was withdrawn. Scott Township police charged Cameron on March 22.

• Charges against Robert Lewis, 49, of Carnegie, were reduced. A charge of accident involving damage to another vehicle was withdrawn; a charge of failure to notify police of an accident involving damage was reduced to a traffic citation; and a disorderly conduct charge was reduced to a non-traffic citation. Scott Township police charged Lewis on April 13.

• A trespassing charge against Christopher Davis, 37, of Scott Township, was reduced to a non-traffic citation. Scott Township police charged Davis on April 7.