Judge denies bail reduction for woman
A Butler woman will remain in the county jail on two robbery cases after her appeal to have her bail reduced was denied in Butler County Court on Monday.
Tiffany A. Crawford, 31, continues to be held on a combined $110,000 bail after county Judge Timothy McCune denied her bail reduction motion.
Crawford, who is charged with two felony robbery counts as well as associated assault and drug possession charges in two cases, argued that while incarcerated she was attempting to “get into the Care Center” and “get back on my psych(iatric) meds.”
“I just want to get home and get my son,” she said, regarding her 10-month-old child, who is currently involved with Children and Youth Services. Crawford testified that a plan for reuniting them was in place through the organization, including chaperoned visits, evaluations and treatment.
“There is a very good plan for me to get back to him,” she said.
Crawford's attorney, public defender Charles Nedz, said she has been incarcerated since June 27, and is denying the allegations.
Assistant District Attorney Terri Schultz argued that bail was appropriate, as both felony cases were within 22 days of each other, and in one incident a victim was injured after being cut with a machete. Crawford was charged with felony robbery, misdemeanor simple assault, disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana after an incident that began at an apartment on Pillow Street in Butler on June 4.
In that incident, Butler police allege that Crawford took $10 from another woman's purse after accusing that woman of stealing money from her, and making her partially disrobe, believing she had hidden the money, according to court documents.
The alleged victim recounted that the defendant hit her, held her down and strangled her, police said.
She eventually managed to run out of the apartment, down the street and into the nearby Papa John's Pizza shop on West Cunningham Street near Second Avenue to get help, but Crawford followed her and allegedly dragged her outside and the women then ended up fighting in the middle of the street, police said.
Crawford also was charged with felony robbery, aggravated assault, conspiracy to aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault and possession of a prohibited offensive weapon after an incident on June 26 on East Wayne Street.
Crawford was charged along with Michelle L. Kaiser, 46, and Anthony F. Perez, 40, both of Butler, after city police allege that the three lured another woman to an East Wayne Street apartment, and robbed her while Crawford held a machete to her throat.
The alleged victim ended up at Butler Memorial Hospital with cuts to her neck and hand, and other injuries. She also had more than $200 stolen out of her bra, police said.
The three defendants fled but officers moments later stopped their pickup truck as part of an ongoing unrelated burglary investigation. Police while speaking to the trio, noticed a machete in the back seat. Officers removed it for their own safety. A call then came in regarding the robbery and the suspects, whose descriptions matched the detainees.
Both Kaiser and Perez were charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, and Kaiser was also charged with criminal use of a communication facility. They continue to be held in the Butler County Prison on $45,000 and $20,000 bail, respectively.
Crawford is scheduled for conferences on Aug. 22 and Oct. 18, jury selection on Oct. 19 and trial starting Oct. 23 for the first case, while all three defendants in the second case are scheduled for formal arraignment on Aug. 22.
