Hearing in O'Hara arson delayed
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A judge yesterday postponed a preliminary hearing for a former O'Hara councilman who admitted setting his family's home on fire while his severely disabled daughter lay inside.
District Judge Elissa M. Lang of Sharpsburg agreed to a new hearing date after the prosecutor said the girl's condition had worsened. The district attorney may file additional charges if Kristin Pontier, 16, dies of injuries suffered in the Dec. 29 fire.
Samuel A. Pontier, 56 , has a history of psychiatric problems. He has been on and off medication for bipolar disorder for years, said his lawyer, James E. DePasquale.
The former GOP councilman told police he set the fire in the home he once shared with his wife, Kathleen, and their twin daughters, Kristin and Kaitlin.
The couple separated about a year ago after Ms. Pontier obtained a protection-from-abuse order against him. He was charged with simple assault in December 2005 after he allegedly threw a set of keys at Kaitlin. That case has yet to be heard.
Since the separation, Mr. Pontier had been living with his parents in Oakland, but was welcome to help out when needed at his O'Hara home, his lawyer said.
On Dec. 29, Mrs. Pontier obtained a second PFA against her husband. An O'Hara police officer escorted her to her home. They had the PFA in hand when they found Mr. Pontier sitting on the porch with smoke coming from inside the home.
Their daughter, Kristin, who has severe cerebral palsy, scoliosis and suffered a recent bout of pneumonia, had been left inside, where she was "medically confined" to her bed, police said.
Police and firefighters from O'Hara and Blawnox rescued the girl and she was flown by helicopter to West Penn Hospital, where she remained in critical condition yesterday.
Mr. DePasquale said his client and childhood friend does not recall why he set the fire.
Mr. Pontier wept and his wife fought tears as Assistant District Attorney Lisa Pellegrini told the judge about their daughter's deteriorating prognosis.
Upon arrest, Mr. Pontier told police that he lighted some paper in the kitchen, then added loose sheets of paper, causing the flames to billow and spread. He is charged with arson, causing a catastrophe, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.
First Published January 4, 2007 12:00 am
