Philadelphia Gay News Nov. 19 - 25, 2010
Honesty Integrity Professionalism
Vol. 34 No. 47
Weiss sentenced to house arrest, fine By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
PRIDE AND PAGEANTRY: Twenty men from around the country put on their best smiles for the U.S. Mr. Gay competition last weekend, visiting the Liberty Bell on Nov. 12 before they took part in a question-and-answer session later that night and the formalwear and swimsuit contests the next night at Voyeur. Judges included out celebs Michael Musto, David Evangelista and Terence Noonan. Philadelphia Mr. Gay Ryan Mattis (center) was first runner-up, beat out by Eddie Rabon (second from left), who represented South Carolina. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Story and more photos
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Second person arrested in Omni murder By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer Police arrested a second person this week in connection with the murder of a man in a Center City hotel for which a transgender sex worker has already been charged. Richard Collins, 20, was arrested Monday at his home in Bridgeton, N.J., and is accused of attempting to help the suspect cover up the murder. Peaches Burton, 22, is accused of beating and strangling Patrick Michael Brady, 49, in Brady’s room Oct. 30 at the Omni Hotel. Brady, a married father from Thorndale, was an IT worker at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital who police say often stayed at the Omni, at Fourth and Chestnut, when he had early-morning work meetings. Fire and rescue workers were called to the hotel shortly after 10 a.m. Oct. 31 for a report of a small fire in an eighth-floor room, where they eventually found Brady’s body. The Medical Examiner COLLINS d e t e r m i n e d B r a d y
died by manual strangulation and suffered trauma to his face, hands and neck. Brady let Burton into his room v o l u n t a r i l y, a l t h o u g h p o l i c e a r e unsure how the pair met and what led to the altercation between them. Police believe that after Burton allegedly killed Brady, the suspect called Collins for help. Police spokesperson Lt. Ray Evers said Burton and Collins attempted to make Brady’s death look like an accident. “Collins helped Burton move the body from one place in the room to another, but I’m not sure what they did to manipulate the body in any certain way,” Evers said. Burton is accused of setting Brady’s body on fire before leaving the room. The pair also took Brady’s credit cards, cell phone and identification, and Collins allegedly stole a radio belonging to the hotel. Evers said investigators were led to Collins after tracing Burton’s whereabouts before and after the murder. He was unsure whether Collins also identifies as transgender. Collins was charged with theft, receivSee OMNI MURDER, Page 15
A federal judge this week sentenced local bar owner Michael Weiss to one year of house arrest for improperly reporting the earnings of one of his nightclubs. Judge Jan DuBois on Tuesday ordered Weiss to three years of probation, with the first 12 months spent under house arrest with an electronic ankle monitor. Weiss must also pay a fine of $30,000 within the next month and complete 300 hours of community service. Weiss, who co-owns Woody’s with his brother and serves as president of the board of Voyeur, was indicted in January on three counts of tax fraud stemming from his involvement with the Palmer Social Club, an after-hours club on Spring Garden Street. The indictment stated that Weiss underreported the club’s earnings on its 2004 and 2005 tax filings by $1.6 million. Weiss pleaded guilty in June to corrupt endeavor to impede the due administration of the tax code. The judge dismissed two counts of aiding and abetting the preparation and filing of false tax returns. During the sentencing hearing this week,
DuBois also imposed a $562,000 fine against the club, of which Weiss’ father, Barnett Weiss, is president and director. The club was placed on five-years’ probation and must pay the IRS back taxes since WEISS 2004 that it did not pay because it was deemed a tax-exempt nonprofit, a status the club agreed to give up this week. Tom Bergstrom, attorney for Weiss and the club, called the sentences “very fair.” Bergstrom noted that the change in tax status may affect the club’s ability to function as an after-hours locale, although he said such details will need to be worked out. Bergstrom said he also needs to determine the specifications of Weiss’ house arrest. DuBois said Tuesday that Weiss would be permitted to leave his home to work, seek medical treatment, attend religious services, shop for necessities and complete his required community service. Weiss is also permitted to leave his house for another reason if the plan is pre-approved by his probaSee SENTENCING, Page 14
PREPPING FOR PIES: Employees and volunteers of the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance, including CEO Richard Keaveney (center, in blue) and Mayor Nutter (to the right of Keaveney) took their only two-minute break of the day from cooking and packaging food last Thanksgiving. MANNA is in the final day of its annual Pie in the Sky sale, in which it is offering three types of gourmet pies and three varieties of cakes, at $25 each, with proceeds going to provide nutritional meals to local residents facing life-threatening illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS. Orders must be placed by noon on Nov. 19 by calling (215) 496-2662 or visiting www.mannapies.org. File Photo: Scott A. Drake