Schuylkill court news

Divorces Granted

Pedro N. Aguero, 120 Gay St., Tamaqua, was granted a divorce from Leshia Lily Gonsalez, Norcross, Ga. They were married Feb. 28, 1998.

Melissa E. O'Connell-Cook was granted a divorce from Brian A. Cook, both of 220 Second Street, Coaldale. They were marrIed Oct. 19, 1992.

Edith G. Schimpf, Rosyln, was granted a divorce from Dale C. Schimpf, Frackville. They were married Aug. 8, 1971.

Jenny Eckley was granted a divorce from Stephen Eckley, both of Pottsville. They were married Sept. 29, 2001.

Summary appeals

Judge Cyrus P. Dolbin heard a number of summary appeals from rulings made by district justices.

Samuel P. Miller Jr., 50, of 118 Tyson St., New Ringgold, dropped his appeal when his case was called and entered a guilty plea to a charge of driving while his license was suspended and he was fined $200 plus $50 costs. Miller was stopped by Trooper Michael J. Van Busirk last Sept. 8 on SR895 in East Brunswick Township.

Fiorino Gande, 58, Sinking Springs, Berks County, dropped her appeal and entered a guilty plea to a charge of exceeding the speed limit by 20 miles and was fined $35 plus $50 costs. Gande was cited by Trooper Michael Ryan when stopped on SR183 in Wayne Township.

Robert Collins, 34, of 81 S. Catawissa St., Mahanoy City, failed to appear for his hearing and his appeal was dismissed. He had been adjudged guilty by a diistrict justice of driving an unregistered vehicle and was fined $25 plus $75 costs.

James Michael Brennan, 25, of 52 Water St., New Philadelphia, lost his appeal as the judge found him guilty of operating a vehicle without a valid license and was fined $25 plus $50 costs.

Angela A. Halford, 36, of Ringtown, won her appeal as the judge found her not guilty of a charge of harassing a neighbor and her fine of $100 plus $135.50 in costs were voided.

Sentenced

Keith Burton Weider Jr., 43, Pottsville, who had entered a guilty plea last Dec. 3 to a charge of sexual abuse of children by possessing child pornography, was sentenced by President Judge Willliam E. Baldwin to serve 11 1/2 to 23 months in the Schuylkill County Prison with credit for 516 days served, pay $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account fund, $50 per month supervision fee and cost of prosecution. Weider was cited by Det. Steve B. Guers, Pottsville police.

Revoke parole

President Judge William E. Baldwin revoked the parole of three men and remanded them to the county prison.

Michael Robert Bramley, 34, Minersville, had his street time of 569 days disallowed and his new maximum date was set at Aug. 11, 2011. He had pleaded guilty in February 2008 to charges of theft of a vehicle and was involved in an accident with the car and was sentenced to serve 54 days in prison and was then released on probation for 23 months. He has 79 days of credit of time spent in prison.

Damian Zimnicki, 28, Ashland, had his street time of 360 days disallowed and he was remanded back to prison and will not be considered for parole for six months. He received credit for serving 90 days. Zimnicki pleaded guilty on Aug. 19, 2008, to charges of burglary of a flower shop in Ashland and after serving two months in the county prison was released on probation for 18 months. He was cited by Chief Adam Bernodin Jr., Ashland police.

Keven Michael Phelan, 21, Lost Creek, West Mahanoy Township, was recommitted to the county prison and will not be considered for parole for three months and then when released has two years of probation to be served. He pleaded guilty last May to retail theft from Boscov's Store, Fairlane Village Mall, Pottsville and Unimart Store, Mahanoy City.

Judge D. Michael Stine revoked the parole of two men but immediately placed them back on the street.

David Norman Murphy, 45, Shenandoah, had 133 days of libery disallowed but was reparoled effective the same day under special conditions. They are, no contact with the victims of the new arrest and enroll in and successfully complete the Batterers Interventilon Program. Murphy originally had pleaded guilty last May to possession and delivery of illegal drugs and after he served three months in the county prison was released on parole for 23 months.

Jason Robert Houck, 35, Fleetwood, Berks Coutny, had his 79 days of street time were disallowed and his new maximum date of release was set at April 6, 2010. He was reparoled so he could serve his sentence concurrent with one imposed by Berks County court and he must comply with the Berks County sentence. Houck pled guilty last March to theft of a car in West Brunswick Township. He had pleaded guilty last March to a charge of theft of a motor vehicle in West Brunswick Township