Longer suspended sentences for women who chased a quad bike

A Chester woman already on probation for ethnic intimidation related to an alleged confrontation with her neighbors in 2021 received another year of probation Monday for disorderly conduct after she chased another neighbor on his quad bike last year.

Theresa M. Pileggi, 67, the sister of Common Pleas Court Judge Dominic Pileggi, was also sentenced to a $1,500 fine and 150 hours of community service. Chester County Visitation Court Judge David F. Bortner also sentenced her to a $1,500 fine and 150 hours of community service.

Bortner said he hoped the ruling would get Pileggi's attention so she would not have to go to court again for a similar offense.

2021 Fall

Pileggi was sentenced to two years' probation in June 2022 after pleading guilty to two counts each of ethnic intimidation and harassment and one count of trespassing. He allegedly entered another neighbor's property and used a racial slur in January 2021.

She was fined $600 and banned from contacting the victims or their families.

The case was heard by Berks County Judge Steven Lieberman, who attended the case. Defense attorney Tracie Burns said at the time that she hoped the judge could make it clear to both parties that they must proceed civilly.

“If something else happens in the neighborhood, I really have no control over that,” Lieberman replied. “But if it's another crime, Miss Pileggi can be re-sentenced if new charges are filed.”

New charges filed

In March 2023, Pileggi was again charged with disturbing the peace, reckless endangerment, simple assault, harassment, and reckless driving after an altercation with another neighbor.

According to the probable cause affidavit in the case, written by Chester Officer Melissa Goodman:

Police were dispatched to the corner of 22nd and Hyatt Streets because of threats. The victim told officers that a white woman in a white Subaru SUV attempted to run him over while he was riding his ATV.

The victim stated that he had previously had negative experiences with the woman, whom he identified as Pileggi.

The man said he was riding his ATV up and down an alley when Pileggi pulled into his driveway and began cursing at him and his brother. The man showed Goodman a picture of Pileggi in the driveway.

The victim said he drove away, but Pileggi chased him in the SUV, ignoring two stop signs and blocking him at one point.

Another neighbor who witnessed the incident said he tried to calm Pileggi down, but she did not listen to him and repeatedly referred to the neighbor and the two brothers as “you people.”

Charges of reckless endangerment, simple assault, careless driving and harassment were dropped after a preliminary hearing before Magistrate Judge Andrew Goldberg in December.

Pileggi pleaded guilty to a single count of disorderly conduct before Bortner in June, when she was sentenced to two years' probation in the 2021 case.

Lawyers argue

Assistant Attorney General Katherine McDermott on Monday called for a year of electronic home monitoring on the disorderly conduct charge.

She pointed out that Pileggi had already been fined for harassment and disorderly conduct in 2019 and 2020, followed by allegations of ethnic intimidation in 2021.

Pileggi was still on probation for that offense when this similar incident occurred, McDermott said.

The victims were not present at Monday's hearing, but McDermott said they reported that Pileggi was still talking to them, a violation of their bail conditions to stay away.

“She has been given fines and suspended sentences on more than one occasion and it doesn't seem to have any effect on the defendant,” McDermott said. “She continues to behave in this way towards other people who she believes are not behaving appropriately.”

Defense attorney Baltazar Rubio said the “you people” comment was addressed at the preliminary hearing and it was clear at the time that his client was referring to the people who drive the quads and that it had no racist connotations.

Rubio argued that home monitoring was not appropriate because Pileggi posed no danger to her community, had good ties to her church and had a stable employment history. He added that the simple assault charges were not simply averted through negotiation, but that he had remedied them by showing they were not supported by the evidence.

“I am very sorry for my actions. There is no excuse for my behavior. I never meant to hurt anyone,” Pileggi told the judge. “I have lived in my neighborhood for 50 years and have seen many changes. I have never, ever had a problem in my neighborhood. I am so sorry that my actions have brought me to your courtroom today and I am wasting your time because I am not the person the state is trying to portray me as. I want to live in harmony with my neighbors, which is what I have done for 50 years until recently.”

Bortner pointed out that Pileggi is well educated and has had a high level of professional success, but psychologist Dr. Jerry Lazaroff said counseling could be helpful “to reduce her intolerance of people who do not conform to her societal expectations.”

The judge said he found Pileggi's behavior here not only rude and inappropriate, but criminal. While he agreed with Rubio that she is not a violent person and surveillance of the home is not necessary, he said Pileggi appears to “fervently wish” that the demographics of her neighborhood had not changed over time.

As part of the sentence, Bortner ordered Pileggi to stay away from the victims, continue therapy and complete a second round of anger management training.

“Listen carefully this time so that you don’t end up in court a third time because of a similar situation,” he advised her.

Originally published: September 13, 2024 at 10:15 am