Schuylkill County Court news
Divorces granted
Lourdes E. Paulo, Pottsville, was granted a divorce from Manuel S, Paulo, Schuylkill Haven. They were married Feb. 14, 1982.
Thomas E. Perna, Frackville, was granted a divorce from Teresa E. Perna, Pitman, Eldred Township,.They were married Aug. 14, 2007.
Removed from ARD
President Judge William E. Baldwin removed two people from the Accelerated Rehabilative Disposition (ARD) probation program, because they violated terms set by the court. They now face trial and if convicted the conviction remains on their record.
Removed were David S. Zellner, 39, of 1520 Penn Drive, Andreas, West Penn Township, who faces charges of alleged terroristic threats and simple assault on Shelly Zellner, estranged wife. The charges were filed by Patrolman William Cope, West Penn Township Police. Brian K. Rabenold, 29, of 228 W. New York St., Shenandoah, faces charges of allege driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol as brought by Chief Matthew Nestor, Shenandoah police.
State program
Bruce A. Zimmerman, 46, of 337 E. Norwegian St. Pottsville, pleaded gulty to a number of criminal charges, including burglary, and was sentenced by Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin to a period of state Intermediate Punishment Program (IPP) for a period of 24 months. He will serve seven months in a state correctional institution, of which not less than four months must be spent in an institutinal therapeutic community, six months in an aftercare phase in a community correction center, a group home or ann approved transitional residence such as his home and the intergration into the community for the balance of his sentence.
Major charges stay
Following an evidentury hearing four major charges remain for which Jacob Alexander Cook, 24, of Tremont, will have to stand trial. They are: homicide by vehicle and three counts of aggravated assault by vehicle. Judge John E. Domalakes dismissed only the charge of involuntary manslaughter.
The charges arise from a two vehicle collision on Dec. 6, 2008, at the intersection of state rpoutes 125 and 209 in Tremont Township. The testimony was that Cook turned left onto 209 and proceeded only a few feet when a truck operated by Timothy Scheib and his own vehicle collided causing Scheib's car to hit a tree resulting in serious injuries. A sobriety test performed on Cook revealed a reading of .11 percent. Scheib died of injuries but his two sons, who were in his truck, although suffering serious injuries. At the hearing Cook argued there was insufficient evidence to establish a case against him which the judge overruled.
