JEANNETTE MAN GRANTED LENIENCY

A Jeannette man asked for and received a chance to turn his life around when he was sentenced yesterday for an assault against a Vandergrift police officer. The officer suffered what likely are career-ending injuries during an escape attempt by 30 year old Chad Foster nearly three years ago. Foster told Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-Defazio that since then, he has been the most stable he’s ever been in his life and he believes going to jail will only set him back. Foster faced at least 21 months in jail under standard sentencing guidelines, but Judge Defazio said Foster appears to have made significant changes in his lifestyle that warranted leniency. She ordered Foster to serve three years on probation, including a 6 month period of house arrest.