Lehighton man gets break in compromise
A compromise reached in the Schuylkill County Court Monday on a Lehighton man's appeal from a summary conviction saved quite a number of dollars.
Dale W. Schleicher, 75, of 517 W. Lizard Creek, appealed his citation for driving an unregistered vehicle for which a district judge found him guilty and imposed a fine of $3,375. His attorney, Jeffrey Bowe, after a conference with the district attorney's representative and the arresting police officer, reached an agreement for his client to enter a guilty plea to a charge of driving an unregistered vehicle which reduced his fine to $75 plus $50 costs.
The compromise was also approved by the arresting West Penn Township officer, Melissa M. Johnson. She cited Schleicher when she found the vehicle disabled off SR309 last May 27.
His was one of eight appeal hearings held by Judge John E. Domalakes. Disposition of the others were as follows:
Aaron B. Charles, 24, of 101 S. Reeser St., New Ringgold, appealed a citation for exceeding the speed limit by 31 miles as charged by Patrolman Kenneth A. Jacobs, Schuylkill Haven police, who clocked him traveling 56 miles per hour in a 25 zone last May 25. Charles failed to appear at his hearing and his appeal was dismissed and the fine of $87 plus $104.50 costs imposed by the district justice stands. He was also fined $25 and $50 court costs by Domalakes.
Kabba Bangura, 35, of Pompano Beach, Fla., won his appeal because the officer who issued the citation, Patrolman Alfred J. Walsh, McAdoo police, failed to appear for the hearing. Bangura had appealed a fine of $2,500 imposed on a charge of failing to have a commercial driver's license while operating a tractor trailer on Interstate 81.
A compromise agreement was reached in the appeal of Jonathan A. Deeter, 19, of 101 Chestnut St., Ashland, who appealed a citation issued by Patrolman Michael J. O'Neill, Ashland police, charging him with underage drinking. Deeter entered a gulty plea to a charge of disorderly conduct and the Commonwealth nol prossed the other charge and he had to pay a $150 fine instead of a $300 fine which was imposed by a district justice.
Lon Brumbach, Reinholds, Lancaster County, also received a financial break under a compromise agreement. He entered a guilty plea to a charge of driving an unregistered vehicle after the Commonwealth moved to nol-pros a more serious charge of operating an unregistered vehicle and he was ordered to pay a fine of $75 plus $50 costs instead of $3,279.50. He was stopped on SR61 in New Castle Township last July 30 by Patrolman Ronald Romanchik.
Ronald James Devito, 40, of Staten Island, N.Y., also received a compromise agreement . He agreed to plead guilty to a charge of traveling five miles over the speed limit in a 35 mile per hour zone on North Kennedy Drive, McAdoo, last July 18 and was fined $35 plus $50 costs and the charge of reckless driving was nol prossed for which he had been fined $200 plus $84.50 in costs. He was cited by Patrolman Jeremy P. Talanca.
George L. Eyster, 46, of 531 W. Howard St., Frackville, was found guilty of exceeding the speed limit and finds imposed by a district justice remain. Eyster was cited by Trooper Joseph J. Aponick last May 24 when stopped on SR924 in Gilbertonand he was charged with traveling 73 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone and was fined $61 plus $155.50 costs.
A hearing was held on the appeal of Joshua Bialota, 136 N. Union St., Shenandoah, charged by the Shenandoah Borough Code Officer Charles J. Zebraitis with violating a borough code by failing to obtain an occupancy permit while renovating his home. Biatota claims the ordinance is illegal violating the U.S. Constitution of his right to make repairs to his private property. Domalakes deferred a ruling to a later date.
