Blame it on the menopause.
Former Center Township Trustee Denise Paul Hatch has lost another effort to have her conviction from last year overturned.
Hatch pled guilty in October to official misconduct and disorderly conduct charges. She was arrested in May for possessing a weapon, which she could not have as she was out on bond for a previous offense. Hatch was given credit for time served and did not have to spend any time behind bars. Because Hatch pled guilty to felony charges, she was automatically removed from office.
Hatch’s attorney had filed a motion to withdraw her plea agreement, saying she did not fully understand what she was doing and was coerced into signing the deal. However, the Court said it could not verify whether Hatch actually wanted to.
Later, Hatch filed another motion to change her guilty plea, claiming ineffective counsel, that she signed the plea deal under duress, and that she didn’t understand the consequences of her guilty plea.
Hatch also told the court that she was going through menopause for a second time and that she wasn’t able to think properly. Hatch is 65 years old. She presented no evidence to support that claim.
The judge denied her request.
