Kate Lynn Blatt, a trans woman who allegedly caused a disturbance at a Walmart store in St. Clair, has been convicted of harassment and disorderly conduct.
Blatt, 35, vowed to challenge her convictions in Schuylkill County Common Pleas Court.
On Sept. 7, Blatt had a 90-minute trial before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko. At its conclusion, Plachko declared Blatt guilty of both offenses.
Blatt contended Plachko conducted the trial in a biased manner.
“The judge was actually telling [prosecution] witnesses what to say,” Blatt told PGN. “I never saw anything like it in my life. He was so unprofessional.”
Blatt added: “[Plachko] showed zero ability to understand or care about trans issues.”
Plachko couldn’t be reached for comment.
If Blatt’s convictions are upheld in Schuylkill County Common Pleas Court, she faces up to $600 in fines and six months in jail. As of press time, a court date hadn’t been scheduled.
On May 28, Blatt was shopping for clothes at a Walmart in St. Clair. A store attendant allegedly denied Blatt access to a female fitting room. Blatt allegedly shoved the attendant. A disturbance ensued, and police were called.
Bryce Lewis, a responding officer, cited Blatt for harassment because she allegedly shoved the attendant. Lewis also cited Blatt for disorderly conduct because she allegedly used obscene language.
Blatt denies shoving a store attendant. She also maintains that if she used obscene language, it was out of desperation because she was surrounded by hostile onlookers.
“I may have been upset. But I was surrounded by people, and in fear for my life. If a woman being raped uses obscene language, would she be charged with disorderly conduct?”
The witnesses who testified at Blatt’s trial included the store attendant Blatt allegedly shoved, a customer who says he saw Blatt shove the attendant and a Walmart manager.
Blatt testified in her defense, stating that Lewis used male terminology when referring to her at Walmart, and that Lewis failed to investigate the incident thoroughly.
Lewis couldn’t be reached for comment.
Blatt commended her attorney, Stephen T. Carpenito, for diligently pursuing her defense.
“I’m so grateful for Steve’s passion and skilled representation,” Blatt concluded. “He really went above and beyond the call of duty. He wasn’t intimidated at all by a hostile judge and a broken judicial system.”
Lindsey Nowak, Blatt’s wife, witnessed much of the Walmart incident. But Nowak wasn’t given an opportunity to testify at Blatt’s trial, she said.
“It was a monkey trial,” Nowak told PGN. “It was the most absurd thing I’ve ever seen. The judge was obviously biased in favor of the prosecution.”