REGISTER OF WILLS TO PAY FINE AND RESIGN AT THE END OF THE YEAR

Westmoreland County’s Register of Wills has agreed to pay a $10,000 fine and step down at the end of the year. The Trib reports that Sherry Margetti Hamilton agreed to the settlement that was announced by Judge Harry Smail, Jr. ahead of what was expected to be a sentencing hearing that could have resulted in her serving time in jail. In exchange, the judge will drop charges of contempt of court. Last month, she was found guilty of three counts of contempt for violating two court orders that required her to meet specific work-related goals related to repeated failures of her to perform her work. Before the hearing, there was a small protest outside the courthouse calling for her resignation.