Published: November 05, 2009 11:10 pm      

Suspect comes forward

Man accused in 1981 theft of concert tickets

EBENSBURG — A Johnstown man accused of having stolen concert tickets nearly 30 years ago showed up voluntarily in Cambria County court to answer the charges Thursday.

Howard Chester Bush, now 46, was just a teenager when he was charged with receiving stolen property in obtaining tickets for Judas Priest, Air Supply and Liberace early the morning of July 10, 1981.

The charge was filed by James Zimmerman, then a criminal investigator with the Johnstown police.

What prompted Bush to come forward now is unclear.

Maribeth Schaffer, an assistant public defender, said, “He called about a week ago and said he heard there were some warrants for him. I encouraged him to turn himself in.”

After Schaffer and Assistant District Attorney Wayne Langerholc conferred in chambers with Judge Gerard Long, Bush was advised to be back in court at 9 this morning and was allowed to leave for the day.

The information on the criminal complaint is scanty: Bush allegedly obtained the tickets, valued at more than $1,500, from the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

Whether Judas Priest and Air Supply were to have concerts at the War Memorial is unclear, but there is a notation of “HersheyPark” Liberace tickets.

The charges were filed before then-District Magistrate Joseph Piurkowsky, now deceased.

The case was forwarded to the courthouse with a notation that Bush was listed as a fugitive for not appearing before Piurkowsky to answer the charges.

By November 1981, an additional charge of default in required appearance was filed against Bush for not appearing for trial.