Schuylkill court news

Divorces granted

Amy L. Pester, 739 Claremont Ave., Rush Township, was granted a divorce from James N. Pester, 37 Main St., Quakake, Rush Township. Date of marriage not listed.

Thomas P. Schaefer Jr., 125 Penn St., Tamaqua, was granted a divorce from Karenann E. Schaefer, Pottsville. They were married Feb. 21, 2004.

Regina Marie Bonass, 417 E. Ridge St., Coaldale, was granted a divorce from William Joseph Bonass, 134 W. Mines St., Coaldale. They were married March 27, 1998.

Kelly Stank, Mount Carmel, was granted a divorce from James F. Stank, Ashland. They were married Oct. 19, 1996.

Christina Gogel, Pine Grove, was granted a divorce from Scott Gogel, Blakeslee. They were married Sept. 18, 1999.

Donna Raudabaugh, Pine Grove, wass granted a divorce from Jeffrey Lee Raudabaugh, Dauphin County. They were married Nov. 26, 1994.

Tyler J. Klinger, Williamstown, was granted a divorce from Erika M. Klinger, Hegins. They were married Feb. 22, 2008.

Christopher Gessner, Lykens, was granted a divorce from Kathy L. Gessner, Minersville. They were married March 11, 2000.

Bernadette M. Edling was granteed a divorce from Paul W. Edling, both of Pottsville. They were married Oct. 14, 1995.

Changes plea

Brenda Lee Martin, 48, Pottsville, appealed the ruling of a district justice who ajudged her guilty of driving while her operating privileges were suspended-DUI related. After a hearing she changed her mind and pleaded guilty. Judge Jacqueline Russell imposed a fine of $1,000 plus $117.50 costs and sentenced her to serve 60 days in the county prison but ruled she may serve the sentence under house arrest under electronic monitoring and pay a $12 per day fee.Sentenced

Vernon Wills, 26, inmate at the state correctional institution in Mahanoy Township, was sentenced by Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin on a charge of aggravated harassment of a correctional officer and a licensed practical nurse to serve three to six years consecutive to sentences he is now serving in the state prison imposed by Allegheny and Wayne County courts. He also must pay $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account (CJEA) and make restituiton of $1,128 to Bethlehem Regional Lab.

Ian John Munz, 20, Tower City, who pleaded guilty to retail theft was given credit by Judge Dolbin for serving five days in the county prison and was released on probation for 12 months, pay $50 to the CJEA and make restitution of $30.02 to Tower Sales MIni Market inTower City.

Revoke ARD

Robert James Bergan, 32, Gordon, was removed from the Accelerated Rehabilative Disposition (ARD) probation program by President Judge William E. Baldwin for violating terms fixed by court and his case is now added to the criminal trial list.

Bergan was placed on the program because it was his first criminal offense and was given an opportunity to clear his name. He faces charges of possession of a instruament of crime (metal crowbar) and loitering around the car wash in Gordon as charged by Butler Township Lt. Daniel Holderman.

Bail hearings

Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin held hearings on motions to set or reduce bail and made the following rulings:

Ricky C. Nelson, 33, 103 N. Lehigh St., Tamaqua, motion to reduce bail was granted and bail was reduced to $5,000 unsecured. He must reside at the Lehigh Street address, have no contact with the victim, shall obtain employment within 30 days and must appear at all court hearings. He faces assault charges.

Christopher Hill, 23, 47 Mush Dahl Rd., New Ringgold, had his bail reduced to $5,000 unsecured. He faces assault charges.

Tyler J. Smith, 24, Mahanoy City, had his bail reduced to $5,000 unsecured and he shall be committed to White Deer Run for inpatient treatment. Upon his release he is to reside at the home of his mother, 290 Park Place Rd., Mahanoy City, and obtain employment within 30 days. He faces assault charges.

Robert J. Vesay, 39, Tower City, was brought into court on a bench warrant for failing to keep court dates and after a hearing the bench warrant was lifted and bail reinstated at $5,000 unsecured.

Dennis J. Kinsey, 39, Lykens, had his bail reduced to $5,000 unsecured. He faces assault charges.

Reduce speed charges

Four motorists appealed to court from speeding fines imposed by district judges and entered guilty pleas after Judge Jacqueline Russell amended the violations.

Grace A. Shaup, 69, Minersville, appealed a charge of traveling 66 miles-per-hour in a 40 zone on SR901 in Foster Township. The court amended the speed to 45 mph, Shaup agreed to pay a fine of $25, instead of $77, plus $104.50 costs.

Edward Billman, 37, Llewellyn, Branch Township, appealed a charge of traveling 80 mph in a 45 zone on the Pottsville-Minersville Highway. The court amended it to 58 mph he agreed to pay a $51 fine instead of $95 plus $123.50 costs.

Ettoire G. DiCasimirro, 24, Mahanoy City, appealed a charge of traveling 79 mph in a 55 zone on SR924 in Gilberton and when the court amendes it to 60 mph he pleaded guilty to pay a fine of $25 plus $103.50 costs.

Charles M. Barnes, 55, Mount Carmel, appealed a charge of traveling 51 mph in a 35 zone on Fairground Road in Butler Township. The court reduced the charge to failng to obey a traffic signal and Barnes pleaded guilty and was finded $25 plus $101.50 costs.