Child rapist facing new charges after victim comes forward

DANVILLE -- A local man already serving 25 years in federal prison for making child pornography and raping a toddler is facing new charges for raping an 8-year-old boy in 2007, court papers show. At first Michael Coates, 30, denied the boy's claim that he'd forced the child to watch kiddie porn before yanking his pants down and assaulting him in Berwick, charges say. He agreed to a police interview "to prove his innocence." But after a polygraph test caught Coates in the lie, he admitted he raped the boy in Berwick, he told a reporter.

A sneak peek at the front page — July 25 edition

Here's a look at what we're working on for July 25: * A house fire claims 11 small dogs. Read our online report and look for more in Thursday's print edition. * The contents of an old hotel that was the site of a brutal slaying in the early 1980s goes up for auction this afternoon. * A mom who was brought up on charges of letting her kids smoke synthetic pot and watch porn pleads guilty to corrupting the kids, but blames it all on an ex-boyfriend.

Double home burns, 11 dogs dead

SHICKSHINNY -- Eleven dogs died early Wednesday in a fire that gutted a double home owned by a woman who breeds Chihuahuas. Derek Smith, wife Kim and their two-year-old son Tristyn were upstairs in their half of 92-94 Butler Court - off West Butler Street - when the fire broke out just after midnight. "I woke up, smelled smoke, and got her and him out of the house as fast as I could," Derek said. The Smiths said they had to contend with heavy smoke as they hurried downstairs and out a side door.

Local police chief punched girlfriend, court order alleges

MILLVILLE -- Longtime Police Chief Ted Stout has been forced to give up his guns and move to desk duty amid a State Police investigation and a court order claiming he beat his girlfriend. Tori Harrison, who lived with Stout and worked as his subordinate in Millville and a neighboring department, asked Columbia County Court Monday for a temporary protection-from-abuse order.

Woman nabbed in drug bust calls herself 'face of meth'

DERRY TWP. -- A woman arrested late Monday night for allegedly running a clandestine drug lab told a reporter, "This is the face of meth." Allison Marie Swisher, 48, of 107 Mexico Road, had lots of ingredients for making the drug inside her home when police executed a search warrant overnight, officials said. Swisher said the arrest was actually a relief. "This is the first night of the rest of my life," she said at her arraignment before District Judge Marvin Shrawder in Danville early Tuesday morning.. "So this is a good night." The mother of two said the drug "makes you want to die."

What we're working on for July 23

Here's a look at the stories keeping our reporters busy Monday: * A local singer is set to compete on NBC's "America's Got Talent." Find out who it is and when you can catch the performance. * The owner of a restaurant destroyed by fire pleads guilty in a tax case. * A mom who was brought up on charges of letting her kids smoke synthetic pot and watch porn pleads guilty to corrupting the kids, but blames it all on an ex-boyfriend. * A woman's son beats her boyfriend after hearing the boyfriend strayed, police say.

Man stabs, kills guest in South Centre, police say

ALMEDIA - A man fatally stabbed his friend during a fight at a home on Old Berwick Road late Saturday night, State Police say. They say Brett Woodside, 26, of 3928 Old Berwick Road was having a get-together with Brandon Burns, 24, of Selinsgrove and two women when he and Burns got into a "physical altercation." Woodside grabbed a knife from his pocket and stabbed Burns once in the left side of his abdomen around 10:45 p.m., said Cpl. Shawn Williams.

What we're working on for July 19

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Thursday: * What started as a Facebook spat ended in a stabbing, police say. See our online report, and look for more in the morning edition. * Police release information on a crash that sent a car rolling. Find out who was hurt. * A man draws blood when his girlfriend tries to leave, charges say. * Learn more about a store manager's alleged scheme to steal some $31G in lottery tickets.

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