More Divorce Drama: PFA Charge Dropped Against Husband Of Millionaire Hardy's ExPOSTED: 11:41 am EDT October 31,
2007 GREENSBURG, Pa. -- A Westmoreland County judge ruled that the estranged husband of a woman once married to millionaire 84 Lumber founder Joe Hardy did not violate a court-ordered protection from abuse order.Last week, a judge ordered Paul Ucman, 43, to stay away from estranged wife Debbie Hardy-Ucman, 40, for three years. Ucman was also arrested on charges of violating a temporary PFA by trying to establish contact via a third party.On Wednesday, the judge dropped that charge after a witness recanted his original testimony. But Ucman is still required to stay away from his wife for three years."I'll just be very glad when all of this is over," Hardy-Ucman said after the hearing Wednesday. "This is the biggest mistake I've made in my life, and I'll be happy when he gives me a divorce."Video:  Watch The Report From The CourthouseHardy-Ucman, of Rostraver Township, originally filed for a PFA after claiming that she was beaten by Ucman, her second husband.Ucman was never charged with that, and he has repeatedly denied hitting his wife."She wants me in jail in the worst way, so I don't go out and do nothing or try to date anyone else. That's all it is," Ucman said last week.Debbie Hardy and Ucman were married less than a year when their problems surfaced publicly, leading to a media circus filled with personal attacks. The television show "Inside Edition" has covered their court proceedings in Greensburg.In an unrelated case, Ucman is awaiting trial on charges of stealing $5 million worth of his wife's jewelry after he learned that she was seeing another man.Most of the items have been returned, police said, including a $500,000 diamond necklace that Hardy-Ucman wore in court last week.Debbie Hardy filed for divorce months before the alleged theft. She said Ucman has been asking to come back, sending her cards and leaving her voicemails. In response, Ucman said his wife has been text-messaging him regularly.In May, she accused him of ramming her car and throwing a steel frying pan through her kitchen window. The case was dropped when she refused to testify against him.Hardy-Ucman's first husband was the lumber millionaire Joe Hardy. After they split, she married Ucman, who was a gardener at Joe Hardy's other business, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Fayette County. Related Links: More County NewsGet RSS | E-Mail Alerts Copyright 2007 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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