Carbon County court

A Lehighton man pleaded guilty this week in Carbon County court to assaulting his then girlfriend at an area campground.

He was one of nine defendants in pending cases to entered guilty pleas before Judge Joseph J. Matika. Five of the cases involve assault charges.

Assault cases

John Water Bogoski, 46, pleaded to one count of aggravated assault and two counts of reckless endangering another person.

He was charged by state police at Lehighton with assaulting his then girlfriend at the Stonybrook campground in East Penn Township on Nov. 21, 2015.

The police report indicated initial reports had a 40-caliber revolver being involved in the incident. The case took a long time getting before the court as there were 15 continuances filed in the matter.

Matika deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.

Bogoski is currently an inmate in the county prison on the charges.

Lawrence John Gulla Jr., 54, of Scranton, and formerly of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count each of simple assault and resisting arrest.

He was charged by Summit Hill police for an incident on June 27, 2018, involving his then girlfriend.

Police said they were dispatched to a residence along East Hazard Street for a domestic disturbance after the Carbon County Communications Center dispatcher said that the victim, with whom Gulla resides, was en route to the St. Luke’s Miners Campus in Coaldale, following an assault by Gulla.

Police said they located Gulla in the backyard of the property, near a garage, and he immediately became irate and started yelling and cursing at the officer.

Police said they informed Gulla he was under arrest and while attempting to handcuff him, Gulla pulled away multiple times until he was eventually secured.

Police said they spoke to the victim at the hospital, who said Gulla picked her up and threw her against a window sill and wall.

Police said she suffered a fractured hip and internal bleeding as a result of Gulla’s actions.

Defense Attorney Matthew Mottola, of the public defender’s office, said since the incident Gulla underwent inpatient rehabilitation program for drug and alcohol and mental health issues.

Gulla told the court, “I’ve been clean for two years. I feel good for myself for the first time in 47 years.” Gulla said he suffers from many health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder from his military service.

Matika told Gulla, “You are no stranger to the court. I hope you got rid of all your demons.”

Matika placed him on probation for a year on each count, running concurrently, and ordered him to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations (noting a report from the center when he did his inpatient counseling would suffice), supply a DNA sample, render 50 hours of community service and have no contact with the victim.

Hector Luis Garcia, 72, of Bowmanstown, pleaded to one count of simple assault.

He was arrested on Sept. 6, 2019, by Palmerton police for an incident involving his wife and occurring at a residence along Harvard Avenue.

Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he attend and successfully complete a anger management course, render 50 hours of community service, make restitution of $743.70 to the Department of Human Services, supply a DNA sample and have no contact with the victim.

He was noted there is a protection from abuse order in place.

Gregory Matthew Shafer, 24, of Drums, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count of simple assault.

He was charged by Nesquehoning police for assaulting a fellow inmate at the county prison on Oct. 12, 2107. The victim required medical treatment at a hospital.

Matika placed him on probation for two years and ordered him to make restitution of $1,734.98 to the county prison for damages, attend and successfully complete an anger management course, supply a DNA sample and render 100 hours of community service.

Scott R. Brown, 28, of Saylorsburg, and formerly of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of simple assault.

He was charged by Summit Hill police for an incident on Oct. 19, 2018, involving a female and occurring in the 100 block of West Hazard Street.

Brown is currently an inmate in the Northampton County prison serving a six months sentence for nonsupport in a domestic relations case.

Matika placed him on probation for 18 months and ordered him to attend and successfully complete an anger management course, make restitution of $429.24 to the Department of Human Services, supply a DNA sample, render 75 hours of community service when paroled and have no contact with the victim.

Other pleas

Dominiqaue Le Nard Smith, 25, of East Stroudsburg, pleaded to one count each of driving under the influence and persistent disorderly conduct.

A charge of possession of a firearm prohibited was dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

He was arrested on May 18, 2019, by state police at Fern Ridge along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township following a traffic stop. Troopers found a 9 mm pistol in the vehicle.

Sentencing was deferred so Smith can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation for the DUI count.

Dwayne France, 46, of Pittston, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count of harassment, as a misdemeanor 3, in exchange for a charge of terroristic threats being dropped in a plea deal.

He was charged by Weatherly police for an incident on Feb. 2, 2018, involving his wife as the victim. A divorce action is pending, France told the court.

Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered him to attend and successfully complete an anger management course, render 50 hours of community service and have no contact with the victim. It was noted the victim agreed to the plea bargain.

Christy Ann Ruch, 45, of Palmerton, pleaded to a summary offense of disorderly conduct in exchange for a charge of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, being dropped in a plea deal. The conduct count was added to the original complaint.

She was arrested on Feb. 26, 2016, by state police at Lehighton for an incident at White Street and Lehigh Alley in Bowmanstown.

Matika imposed a fine of $200.

Daniel William Vito, 29, of East Stroudsburg, pleaded to a motor vehicle code violation of disregarding traffic lane. In exchange for the plea, two counts of DUI were dropped.

He was arrested on Oct. 8, 2018, by state police at Lehighton along Interchange Road in Towamensing Township. The DUI counts were for a controlled substance.

Matika imposed a fine of $25.

Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole or probation.