Judge to rule on motions in rape case
A hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. today at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte regarding two motions filed in the case of a Virginia man police charged for allegedly raping an unconscious Penn State student last September.
The attorney for Justin A. Cluck, 30, of Arlington, Va., filed one motion alleging that certain discovery material has not been turned over by the prosecution, said Centre County Judge Bradley Lunsford. Cluck's attorney, Bruce Manchester, could not be reached to comment on the motions.
Another motion asking the judge to find Centre County Assistant District Attorney Steve Sloane in contempt was also filed by Manchester. Sloane was out of the District Attorney's office yesterday and could not be reached for comment.
The hearing comes after Cluck's trial was continued to the April term of court from his trial date last Friday. District Attorney Michael Madeira said Sloane was too sick with pneumonia, strep throat and laryngitis to go to trial.
However, Lunsford said Manchester asked him to dismiss the trial after Sloane made an appearance at the Republican's Lincoln Day Dinner on Thursday evening. Both Manchester and Sloane are candidates for the Republican nomination for Centre County judge.
Sleeping student assaulted in dorm
A Penn State student entered another student's dorm room and assaulted him early Sunday morning, Penn State University Police said.
Police said a Thompson Hall resident was sleeping with his girlfriend in his room when Penn State student Michael S. Daycock, of Leck Kill, entered the room uninvited and engaged in a verbal argument with the victim's girlfriend, who is Daycock's ex-girlfriend.
Daycock then began yelling at the victim and pushing him with both hands, according to the criminal complaint. Daycock punched the victim in the face with a closed fist, giving the victim a swollen and cut lip, police said.
Daycock also pushed the victim's laptop computer off a desk, causing damage estimated at $1,700, police said.
Police arrested Daycock at 1006 S. Pugh St. He was arraigned before District Judge Jonathan Grine on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, simple assault, criminal mischief and harassment and placed in Centre County Prison in lieu of $7,500 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. March 14 at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte.
Seniors honored with Gates award
Rebekah McLaughlin (senior-chemistry) and Gillean Denny (senior-architecture) were awarded the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship, given to only 48 college students nationwide. The award includes full scholarships to pursue graduate studies for one to four years at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
The scholarship, initiated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, was seeking academically and socially engaged students of high academic achievement, according to the foundation's Web site. Denny said she plans to pursue a master's degree of philosophy in environmental studies at Cambridge, while McLaughlin said she plans to take advantage of her opportunity at Cambridge by helping to advance research on genetics through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The pair received their awards in early February.
