Schuylkill court news
Sentence affirmed
Robert Warren McFarland, 40, Pottsville, lost his appeal as the Pennsylvania Superior Court affirmed the sentence imposed Aug. 2, 2011, after he was convicted by a jury of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol. He was sentenced to serve one to five years in the county prison.
On appeal McFarland raised a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence to support the conviction. He was stopped at a checkpoint on SR61 in Saint Clair. He failed to stop at the designated area for driver inspection.
Three police officers testified his eyes were glassy and all stated he had trouble walking upon exiting his vehicle and smelled alcohol on his breath. The higher court ruled the total evidence demonstrates the Commonwealth presented sufficient circumstantial evidence to permit a jury to find him guilty.
Guilty pleas
Andre Lamont Mason, 25, inmate at the state correctional institution in Mahanoy Township, pleaded guilty to possession a weapon of implementation for escape and was sentenced by Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin to serve six to 12 months in the state correction facility with the sentence to commence at the expiration of the sentence he is now serving. According to Trooper Edward Lizewski the defendant sharpened a toothbrush handle to be used as a knife.
Kevin Carlisle Carrington, 32, Pottsville, pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering Buddy Charles Noel, in the 500 block on Howard Avenue. He was sentenced by Judge Dolbin to serve six to 23 months in the county prison.
