Carbon man admits to his part in home invasion incident

A Carbon County man admitted to his part in a home invasion incident in which the victim was an elderly woman.

Michael Kent, 23, of Nesquehoning, appeared before Senior Judge Richard W. Webb on Tuesday and pleaded to one each of robbery, a felony two, and recklessly endangering another person, a misdemeanor two.

The plea comes almost four years after the incident occurred in Nesquehoning - May 16, 2006.

Kent and Randy Warman, 24, also of Nesquehoning, entered the home of Anna Klemic, 91, at 3 E. Railroad St. The two forced their way into the home after Klemic answered a knock on her door thinking it was someone else she was expecting. The two were wearing stockings over their face and tied her up in a chair and gagged her. Klemic died on Sept. 16, 2006, a month before her 92nd birthday.

Warman pleaded guilty on June 28, 2007, to one count each of robbery and criminal trespass, both felonies. At his plea hearing James Klemic, brother to Anna, told President Judge Roger N. Nanovic that his sister's health "went to hell" after the incident. Several relatives claimed that the incident hastened her death.

Taken in the entry was a total of $36. After the two left the home Klemic was found by a neighbor who called police. The police report of the incident read like a horror story considering the age of the victim.

After the two fled the home they were later caught. Warman was also charged with a robbery at a Redners Market in Shenandoah in Schuylkill County. He was sentenced to serve five to 15 years in a state prison for the Carbon incident and four and half to nine years in Schuylkill for that robbery. The terms ran concurrently.

Kent had previously entered a plea in the case but later withdrew it and asked for a trial.

The case has been pending due to various legal motions made in the matter.

Webb accepted the plea but deferred sentencing and ordered that a presentence investigation (PSI) report be prepared by the adult probation office.