Judge Orders Anger Management Classes, Fine For Road Rage Actions

The man arrested Friday in Ross after on Wednesday agreed in court to attend 36 anger-management classes and pay $457.52 in fines. 

Donald Finnegan, 59, of Bellevue, pleaded guilty to a summary harassment charge and a red-light violation in . Charges of simple assault and careless driving will be dropped if Finnegan fulfills the terms of the agreement.

Finnegan was arrested July 29 after parking his car and confronting Michele Notaro, who had honked her car horn at him for not stopping or yielding the right-of-way while turning onto Cemetery Lane in Ross. Notaro had parked her car behind him when he pulled over. 

Finnegan said,"I'm sick of people doing this," before punching Notaro through the open window of her car and driving off in his car, police said. Notaro suffered a bruise and small cut to her face and was treated at the Ross Township Police Station by

Notaro's two children, ages 8 and 10, were in the car with her at the time of the incident, police said. 

Finnegan was transported to the courtroom from the Allegheny County Jail Wednesday morning after spending four days in jail. He was shackled at the hands and feet and wore the same clothes he was arrested in on Friday — black jean shorts, white walking shoes and a striped shirt. He was released on $25,000 unsecured bond after the preliminary hearing. 

Finnegan was ordered to follow up with the court on Nov 2. If he fails to complete his classes or runs into the law before then, he’ll be required to pay the $25,000 bond and serve 90 days in jail.

Notaro — who was still visibly bruised, with minor cuts beneath her left eye — attended the hearing and declined to receive restitution payments from Finnegan.

“I just want this to be over with,” she said.

Finnegan declined to comment on the case or the charges.