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Judge Throws Out Criminal Charges Against Pair Accused Of Making Threats

The York Dispatch
Wednesday November 14, 2007

By Elizabeth Evans
Of The York Dispatch

A York County judge threw out criminal charges against two business partners accused of making threatening comments against a York City fire codes official.

Tony Brown, 42, of York City, and Jonathan Bourdon, 41, no address available, were charged for a Nov. 30, 2006 encounter with York City firefighter and codes-enforcement officer Jason Rhoades.

The two are partners in Unique Investments with Brown’s common-law wife, Susan Basinger, testimony revealed.

Rhoades testified he cited Basinger with fire-code violations for properties in the 600 block of West Princess Street. He said he was later approached by Brown and Bourdon while pumping gas at a station on Roosevelt Avenue and that Brown said he was going to get him.

Rhoades also testified that Bourdon pulled out a badge and said he was a federal marshal and was going to investigate Rhoades. Bourdon was a naval police officer for a federal installation in Washington, D.C., until he was terminated in May for the encounter, according to testimony from Troy Hige, who also works for that naval division.

But Basinger testified it was Rhoades who initiated the encounter, and said the code-violation citations against her were dropped.

Presiding Common Pleas Judge John S. Kennedy said while there was “mistreatment” of Rhoades, it did not rise to the level of the misdemeanor charges. Bourdon was charged with official oppression, and Brown was charged with retaliation for past official action.

The judge dismissed the charges and also dismissed summary harassment citations against Brown as well. Bourdon and Brown were represented by Harrisburg attorney Justin McShane.

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