Eight area residents among 17 to enter guilty pleas

Eight area residents were among 17 who entered guilty pleas to criminal charges recently in the Schuylkill County Court and were sentenced by President Judge William E. Baldwin.

Kelly Dougherty, 42, of 992 Clamtown Road, Tamaqua R.D., on a charge of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia was placed on probation 24 months and ordered to pay $100 to Substance Abuse Education (SAE) fund, $50 to Criminal Justice Enhancement Account (CJEA) fund and make restituition of $113 to Bethlehem Regional Lab. She was cited by Patrolman Jason Lorah, West Penn Township police on Dec. 12, 2008, on Park Drive.

On a second charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana filed against her by Patrolman Karl Harig, Tamaqua police, who cited her last Aug. 11 at 210 Clay St., she was ordered to serrve an additional 30 days probation, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund and make restitution of $289 to Bethlehem Regional Lab. On a third charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana filed by Cpl. Dennis Wiederhold, Pottsville police, who cited her on Aug. 11 when the contraband was found in her purse at the Schuylkill County Prison, was sentenced to serve a concurrent 30 days probation to the other charges and pay $100 to SAE fund.

Gary Allen Keach, Tamaqua/Girardville, on a charge of simple assault was sentenced to serve three to 23 months in the county prison. On a charge of terroristic threats given a 12 months probation concurrent sentence and when on probation complete a course of Anger Management and on charges of harassment and disorderly conduct was fined $25 each plus costs. Keach was cited by Sgt. William Dempsy, Saint Clair police, last June 4.

Leroy D. Stevens, 45, of 122 E. Ruddle St., Coaldale, on a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) was sentenced Feb. 20 to serve 72 hours to six months in the county prison and upon completion of his minimum sentence to be released on parole, fined $1,000, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to Catastrophe fund, $50 to CJEA fund, undergo outpatient counseling and complete a alcohol highway safety school program. On a charge of driving over a divider was fined $25 plus $50 costs. Stevens was cited by Sgt. Richard Weaver, Tamaqua police, on Sept. 3, 2008.

Stephanie Lynn Keck, 31, of 239 E. Catawissa St., Nesquehoning, on four counts of forgery was placed on probation 23 months and pay $50 to CJEA fund. On a theft charge was given a concurrent 12 months probation sentence and make restitution of $1,218.70 to Shane Bartenope. She was cited by Cpl. Henry Woods, Tamqua police, on Nov. 3, 2008.

The police report states she forged Bartenope's name on a check cashed at We R Cigarettes Store, Tamaqua. On a charge of theft of two checks, one from a mailbox, was given a concurrent 12 months probation and pay $50 to CJEA fund. Keck was cited by Chief Timothy Delaney, Coaldale police, on Oct. 31, 2008.

David G. Betz, Jr., 21, of 213 North Avenue, Jim Thorpe, on charges of criminal conspiracy and retail theft of a television from Walmart Store, Rush Township, was placed on probation for 12 months with the sentence to be served concurrently with a sentence serving in Carbon County, pay $50 to CJEA fund and make restitution of $447 to the store. He was cited by Patrolman Brian Thompson, Rush Township Police.

Mark Alan Dietrich Jr., 19, of 366 W. White St., Summit Station, on a charge of criminal attempt was given credit for having served 23 days in the county prison and was released on probation for 18 months and pay $50 to CJEA fund. On a charge of receiving a check belonging to Lori Trunkle, Lehighton, an aunt, and cashing it at a Tamaqua bank was given a concurrent 12 months probation sentence. Dietrich was cited by Patrolman Anthony Stanell, Tamaqua police. A charge of forgery was dropped.

John Potter, 26, of 33 Macomb St., New Philadelphia, on a charge of criminal mischief to an apartment on the Schuylkill Campus of Penn State University in North Manheim Township, was fined $100 and ordered to make restitution of $75. On two counts of trespass and one count of disordelry conduct were nol prossed.

Michael J. Liptok Jr., 22, of 16 Wiggan St., New Philadelphia, on a charge of resisting arrest was given credit for serving 21 days in the county prison and was released on probation for 23 months.

Chris Allen Dixon, 40, Pottsville, on a charge of harassment was fined $50 plus costs as the court granted the motion to nol pros one count of terroristic threats and two counts of simple assault brought by Trooper Michael V. Ryan last Sept. 6. The victim was Bruce Leonard Reedy, Pottsville.

David Michael Hendricks, 29, Minersville, on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia was placed on probation 12 months, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund and $113 to Bethlehem Regional Lab. On a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana received a concurrent 30 day probation sentence. He was cited by Patrolman Richard J. Pugh, Pottsville police, last June 21.

Amy Jo Chado, 23, MountainTop, on charges of forgery, identity theft and presenting a false identification to police was placed on probation 18 months and pay $50 to CJEA fund. On a charge of driving while her operating privileges were suspended was fined $200 plus $50 costs. Chado was cited by Patrolman Ronald Romanchik, New Castle Township police, last May 29.

Jeffrey D. Capiga, 25, Shenandoah, on a charge of fleeing Saint Clair police was sentenced to serve nine to 23 months in the county prison and make restitution of $450 to Saint Clair police. On a charge of resisting arrest was sentenced to serve one to 12 months in prison. On a charge of recklessly endangering another person to serve six to 12 months in prison, both sentences to run concurrent with the fleeing charge. On a charge of criminal mischief was fined $100 and costs.

Donald Earl Ebel III, 28, Mahanoy City, on charges of indecent assault was sentenced to serve one to two years in a state correctional facility. On a charge of corruption of minors to serve five years additional probation under state supervision and on two other indecent assault charges received concurring one year probations. Ebel was cited by Cpl. Henry Woods, Tamaqua police on June 1, 2008.

Michael Lee Brady Jr., 28, Pottsville, on a DUI charge was sentenced on Feb. 18 to serve 10 days in the county prison followed by five months and 20 days in the Intermediate Punishment Program (IPP) with 40 days under house arrest with electronic monitoring and pay a $12 per day fee, followed by 40 days strict probation and three months regular probation. He was also ordereed to pay a $750 fine and court costs, pay $100 to SAE fund, $100 to Catastrophe fund, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, complete an intensive outpatient counseling program and her driver's license is suspended 12 months. On a charge of failing to have a driver's license was fined $200 plus $200 costs. Brady was cited by Patrolman Gregory S. Meisner, Schuylkill Haven police, last July 25.

Robert A. Cheslaw, 28, Hanover Township, on a DUI charge was sentenced on Feb. 18 to serve 30 days in the county prison, followed by four years and 11 months in the IPP with the first 90 days under house arrest with electronic monitoring. He was also ordered to pay a $12 daily fee, followed by 30 days on the SCRAM bracelet and pay a $12 daily fee, followed by seven months strict probation and four years regular probation, pay a fine of $1,500 and court costs, $300 to SAE fund, $100 to Catastrophe fund, complete a dui course and intensive outpatient counseling and driver's license is suspended 18 months. On a charge of failing to drive at a safe speed was fined $25 plus $50 costs. Cheslaw was cited by Patrolman Scott Cramer, Rush Township police, last July 3 when stopped on Hauto Road.

Alan R. Rhen, 62, Schuylkilll Haven, on a DUI charge was sentenced Feb. 24 to serve 30 days in the county prison followed by four years four years 11 months in the IPP with the first 90 days under house arrest with electronic monitoring and pay a $12 daily fee, followed by 30 days on the SCRAM bracelet and pay a $12 fee, followed by seven months strict probation and four years regular probation. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,500 and court costs, $300 to SAE fund, $100 to Catastrophe fund, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, complete DUI school and intensive outpatient counseling and driver's license suspended 18 months. On a charge of failing to drive on roadway laned for traffic was fined $25 plus $50 costs. Rhen was cited by Cpl. Daniel Conville, state trooper, when stopped on SR901 in Pottsville.

Russell Kenneth Dissinger, 56, Pine Grove, on a DUI charge was sentenced on Feb. 19 beginning at 9 a.m. to serve 48 hours to six months in the county prison and then be released on parole, pay a fine of $500 and court costs, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA fund, $60 to Schuylkilll Medicial Center, make restitution of $500 to Sara Moyer and $3,610.98 to State Farm Insurance and $50 to district attorney's office. On a charge of failing to carry car insurance was fined $300; careless driving, fined $25 and failing to wear a seat belt, fined $10, plus $150 in costs. Dissinger was cited by Trooper Michael Keely when stopped on Lincoln Road in Tremont Township last May 31. On a charge of receiving a television stolen from home of Michael Zerbe, Sawmill Road, Washington Township, was placed on a concurrent six months probation and pay a fine of $100. He was cited by Trooper Bernard Walasavage last July 3.

All defendants must pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.