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Judge denies bail to Salazar at pretrial hearing

Theresa Salazar will remain behind bars during her trial, following a Friday pretrial hearing at which Honorable Judge Linhardt bail was denied.

She is accused of ramming her van through the front of the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum on Route 15 in South Williamsport in July of last year.

Salazar had been seeking release on supervised bail to the residence of her brother Paul Vincent Robinson.

Lawyer Helen A. Stolinas argued for the defense that Salazar should be entitled to bail due to the expiration of the 180 hold period under Pa. Rule 600, which guarantees Pennsylvania's a prompt trial.

Stolinas further argued that Salazar has had no reports of misconduct while incarcerated at either the Lycoming County or Centre County Correctional facilites, further stating that Salazar has no known mental health issues, and does not currently take any type of psychotropic medication.

Additionally, Stolinas argued that Salazar could be adequately kept in check through electronic monitoring methods, such as an ankle monitor.

But, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Welickovitch disagreed, arguing that releasing Salazar so close to a trial that may result in jail time could result in an increased risk of harm to both the public, and Little League, specifically.

To back up his assertions, Welickovitch first called Harry Rogers, Supervised Bail Release Program Manager for Lycoming County, who had interviewed Salazar for possible entry into the program that helps eligible individuals who do not fit the traditional bail structure.

Although based on her past criminal history, she was deemed to be among the lowest risk, Rogers determined Salazar was unfit for the program due to his belief that she would not be obedient to the terms of the program.

Rogers specifically cited a provision that requires those released under the program abstain from drug and alcohol.

When this stipulation was raised with Salazar, according to Rogers, she responded that she enjoyed wine, and that it was "no one's business how much she drank."

Rogers also took issue with Salazar's contempt for law enforcement, and her stated intent to seek monetary compensation for what she believes is her unlawful confinement.

Rogers further stated that the program tends to veer away from cases such as these, due to having a relatively small department, without the ability to adequately monitor defendants such as Salazar.

During questioning from Welickovitch, Rogers also stated that electronic monitoring would be insufficient to keep track of Salazar's whereabouts because it could take up to half an hour to verify the location being transmitted from a tracking device she may be required to wear.

Next, Welickovitch called Sherman Shadle, Director of Security for Little League, to the stand.

Shadle, a former Pennsylvania State Major with 25 years of law enforcement experience, stated that he had educated himself on the incident following his appointment in November 2022.

Shadle stressed that securing the Little League complex was nearly impossible, as it is a fairly open area, and would be nearly impossible to fully lockdown due to local teams utilizing the fields, as well as pedestrians visiting the stadium and museum year round, calling the complex as a whole, particularly vulnerable.

When asked by Welickovitch what his biggest concerns were should Salazar be released on bail, Shadle stated that based on Salazar's documented history of aggression towards Little League, he feared she was in a "pattern of escalation."

Shadle further stated that in talks over a contingency plan, the only option for keeping all those involved, including Salazar herself, as well as the general public, would be to shut down the museum until the conclusion of the trial.

When asked by Stolinas if the Little League Association had received any contact by Salazar since July 2022, Shadle stated they had not.

In closing arguments, Welickovitch reiterated the key points of the states' witnesses, adding that since the incident, barriers have been erected in front of the building to prevent a recurrence.

Stolinas challenged these assertions, stating that supervised bail would be a challenge, but was not impossible with strict requirements placed on Salazar to ensure her compliance, and the safety of the general public.

In the end, Judge Linhardt was unmoved by Stolinas' reassurances, telling the courtroom that he not only had concerns over the limitations of the supervised bail program, but also the violent nature of the charges, and Salazar's history of harassment.

Judge Linhardt further agreed with the prosecution that Salazar's release would bring an increased risk of danger to all involved due the closeness of the trial and the possibility of jail time.

In denying bail, the Judge said that there were no conditions that could be enacted to ensure public safety.

In earlier evidentiary motions, the Judge warned Stolinas that the trial on the charges, would not become a mini trial to vindicate Salazar's claims that her family has been effectively written out of Little League history

In response to Stolina's attempt to enter certain correspondence between Salazar and Little League officials, Judge Linhardt cautioned that such a focus could be a possible "double-edged sword," in that her frustration may be seen as a motive for her alleged actions.

Judge Linhardt also gave the prosecution until 9 a.m. on Monday to turn over all prison-recorded phone calls they plan to use in trial to the defense, to allow for adequate time to make objections.

Following the incident in July 2022, Salazar was charged with attempted homicide, causing a catastrophe, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, felony mischief, felony trespassing and six counts of reckless endangerment.

40 people were inside the museum at the time of the crash.

In December, Salazar failed to have charges of attempted homicide and causing a catastrophe dropped. She had argued that because no one was harmed, insufficient evidence existed for the charges to stick.

When a museum coordinator asked her if she needed medical help, the driver told her her name, said "you should be afraid," and revved the engine, according to hearing testimony.

Salazar had been banned from the property due to her actions for more than 20 years that included letters and voice mails claiming George and Bert Bebble should be designated as co-founders of Little League along with Carl E. Stotz, PennLive said.

The great niece of Bebble was told in 2001, that she would be arrested if she tried to protest, as she indicated was her intention when a statue of Stotz was dedicated near one of the series fields.

Bebble's daughter has disavowed Salazar's actions, the media outlet said.