Schuylkill court news
Divorces granted
Lisa M. McGovern was granted a divorce from William G. McGovern, both of Pottsville. They were married July 18, 1992.
Sonya L. Raho, Tower City, obtained a divorce from John F. Raho, Muir, Porter Township. They were married May 24, 1997.
Jason T. Herndon, Pottsville, was granted a divorce from Melanie N. Herdon, Saint Clair. They were married Dec. 15, 2001.
Wendy L. Weikel, Frackville, was granted a divorce from Richard C. Weikel, Ashland. They were married Oct. 12, 2002.
Gregory A. Morgan, Pine Grove, was granted a divorce from Deborah A. Morgan, Spring Glen, Hubley Township. They were married July 18, 1991.
Mary Margaret Moore was granted a divorce from Thomas Vincent Moore, both of Saint Clair. They were married July 23, 1977.
Nicole L. Derfler, Saint Clair, was granted a divorce from Steven M. Derfler, Pine Grove. They were married July 19, 2003.
Matthew Deeter, Hegins, was granted a divorce from Heather Deeter, Tower City. They were married Sept. 20, 2008.
Sentence drug dealer
Christopher Lee Phillips, 28, Gilberton, pleaded guilty to a charge of delivery of a controlled substance in Frackville and was sentenced by Judge Charles M. Miller to serve 16 to 32 months in a state correctional institution, pay a fine of $100 and all costs of prosecution, pay $100 to Substance Abuse Education fund, $50 to Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, make restituiton of $113 to Bethlehem Regional Lab and $60 to Schuylkill County Drug Task Force whose investigation led to his arrest.
Drop charges
Following a hearing Judge John E. Domalakes dismissed five aggravated assault charges filed against Troy Daniel Langtry, 47, Minersville, but ruled he must defend the other charges filed against him by Branch/Reilly Township police.
The charges he still faces are a person not to possess or use firearms, fleeing police, three counts of simple assault, two counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. The information filed to court claims Langtry pointed a gun at three persons outside the Good Intent Hose Company in Lllewellyn, Branch Township and then led police on a chase.
File for divorce
James K. Kellner, 5 S. Lehigh St., Tamaqua, filed suit for divorce from Mary A. Kellner, 111 W. Ninth St., Apt. 258, Clovis, Calif. They were married Aug. 11, 1995.
Jennifer L. Moyer, 10 S. Eighth St., Pottsville, started a divorce proceeding against Diamond J. Moyer, 951 Catawissa Road, Tamaqua. They were married Nov. 4, 1995.
Renew bail
Brought to court on a bench warrant issued for his failure to appearat court proceedings, William L. Smith, 32, Minersville, received a hearing before Judge D. Michael Stine who vacated the bench warrant , set aside the bail forfeiture and fixed an unsecured bail at $15,000 with special conditions attached.
Smith must reside at 37 N. Second St., Saint Clair, and shall not relocated without court approval. When arrested his address was Lewis Street, Minersville. He also cannot consume or possess alcohol or drugs and must appear at future court hearings. He faces charges of theft, criminal conspiracy and receiving stolen property brought by Minersville police.
In absentia
Steward Steckley Jr., 40, Pottsville, wrote a letter to public defender, Attorney Andrea L. Thompson, who was assigned to represent him, that he had enough of court proceedings and refused to be transported from the county prison to the courtroom across the street to be sentenced on a charge he had entered a guilty plea.
Judge D. Michael Stine proceeded to sentence him in absentia stating the charge is a very serious one and not to carry it out would demean its importance.
On a charge of failing to register with police his new address after being released from prison as required under the Megan Law, Steckley was sentenced to serve 16 to 32 months with the sentence to begin at the expiration of a sentence imposed the previous week by Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin to serve 25 to 50 years in a state correctional institution after a jury had found him guilty last Dec. 10 of being a sexualy violent predator. He possessed child pornography. This was a separate sentence. Steckley had been convicted of indecent assault in May of 1994 which made him a 10 year offender and subject to the registration.
