Guard Pleas Guilty to Hazing
Marienville – A former corrections officer at SCI Forest pleaded guilty to all charges related to the hazing of new hires at the prison where he worked. Garret Smead of Warren pleaded guilty to two charges each of unlawful restraint, indecent assault, and other crimes related to the May 2025 hazing of corrections officers in training. Smead harassed and assaulted two officers in training by restraining them in isolated areas of the facility, writing ‘Property of G. Smead’ on their skin, and performing other indecent acts. Court documents do not show a sentencing date after the plea.

Rite Aid for Sale on Auction
Meadville – On Friday, the Meadville Community Development Company announced that the former Rite Aid in downtown Meadville will be sold at Auction in April. The nearly 1-acre property on 975 Market Street has an 11,000 square foot building built in 1999, 47 parking spaces, and is valued at $268,300. Registration for the auction is already underway online at RIMarketplace.com, and the auction begins on Monday, April 13th, ending on Wednesday, April 15th. According to the Meadville Community Development Company, bidding begins at $1.