“Hoax Mom’s” Dad Ordered to Stand Trial
Bonnie Sweeten went on the attack when he walked out of the courtroom after her sentencing."/>
NBC Philadelphia
Raw video from two different angles -- The father of abduction hoax mom Bonnie Sweeten went on the attack when he walked out of the courtroom after her sentencing.
Three television news cameramen testified Friday that William Siner attacked them so viciously at a Bucks County Courthouse last month that their injuries forced them into physical therapy for weeks, according to phillyburbs.com. The attack happened after Siner's daughter Bonnie Sweeten pleaded guilty to faking her own abduction in May.
Doylestown District Judge Philip Daly ruled Friday that there is enough evidence for 66-year-old William Siner of Milton, Del., to stand trial on charges of disorderly conduct and two counts of simple assault. Daly dismissed one count of simple assault, and defense attorney Robert Mancini indicated that he found that encouraging.
Authorities say Siner attacked the three TV cameramen on Aug. 27 after Bonne Sweeten pleaded guilty to charges of identity theft and making false reports to police. The incident was captured on video.
Siner said he “just lost it” when he came out of the courtroom and wasn’t prepared for what he called harassment by news organizations.
CBS photojournalist Casey Kuhn testified that he recently returned to work after spending the last month in physical therapy recuperating from back and neck injuries after Siner shoved a television camera in his face, according to the website.
NBC photojournalist Greg Durgin said Siner said he missed work because of injuries to his ribs, shoulder, neck and back after Siner took a punch at him, grabbed his head and slammed him to the ground.
"It was pretty violent. Very unnerving," said Durgin.
In May the Bucks County mom set off a nationwide manhunt after she said she was carjacked by two black men who forced her and her nine-year old daughter out of SUV and into the trunk of another car. Sweeten was tracked down two days later, with her daughter, at a hotel inside the Disney World complex.
She later admitted she ran off because she could figure out how to pay back up $300,000 she stole from family, friends and acquaintances.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia
Posted Saturday, Sep 26, 2009 - 6:16 PM EST
Top Stories
