Man didn’t report for jail, gets longer sentence

A Lansford man who failed to appear for a prison term, was sentenced to more prison time on Monday after pleading guilty in Carbon County court.

Patrick J. Kelly Jr., 32, pleaded to one count of default in required appearance. He was sentenced to a prison term of 174 days backtime in December 2017 for a probation violation. Judge Joseph J. Matika ruled that Kelly could begin his jail term Dec. 26 to allow him to spend time at Christmas with his family. He failed to appear on Dec. 26 and left the state for Georgia.

Kelly asked Matika for leniency saying he realized what he did was a mistake. He said he plans to go back to Georgia because there is work in that state.

Matika discounted his plea, stating that while in Georgia he was arrested on two new criminal charges. He also said what he did was “disrespectful” to the court.

Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Ann Dyrda Hatton said Kelly’s actions were a “blatant” act of disrespect to the court.

Kelly is currently serving the original 174 days which runs to Oct. 12. On the new charge Matika sentenced him to serve four to 12 months, but concurrent with the present term meaning Kelly will have about an additional 30 days to serve after the Oct. 12 date.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of about $1,000, a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and render 50 hours of community service when paroled.