Schuylkill County Court
Four defendants received county prison sentences from Judge Jacqueline Russell in Schuylkill County court on March 20.
Eric R. Dito, 23, Hazleton was arrested by Tamaqua police June 6, 2016, and charged with DUI and careless driving. On the DUI charge, Dito must serve 48 hours to six months in county prison beginning March 27.
His license will be suspended for 12 months. He must pay a fine of $500 plus $75 to MCARE, $50 to the CJEA, and $100 to the substance abuse education fund. He must perform 20 hours of community service. The careless driving charge was dropped.
David J. Conahan, 37, Nesquehoning, was arrested by Rush Township police officer Michael Weaver on July 17, 2017, and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructed windows, driving an unregistered vehicle and not having the required financial responsibility.
On the possession of a controlled substance charge, Conahan was sentenced to 30 days to 12 months. On the possession of drug paraphernalia charge, Conahan will be on probation for 12 months and perform 20 hours community service. The other charges were dropped. He must pay $100 to the substance abuse education fund and $50 to the CJEA.
Nicole R. Savage, 29, Tamaqua, was arrested by Coaldale police officer Dinu Dermargosian on Aug. 25, 2017, and charged with burglary, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, two counts of theft by unlawful taking, and recklessly endangering another person. On the criminal trespass charge, Savage was sentenced to 63 days to 23 months.
She will serve 12 months on probation for the disorderly conduct charge and the criminal trespass charge and must perform 20 hours community service. The other charges were dropped. Savage will receive 63 days credit for time served.
James Steward-Moyer, 37, Delano, was arrested Sept. 19, 2017, by Pennsylvania State Police-Frackville trooper Thomas Powell and charged with burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy. On the theft by unlawful taking charge, Steward-Moyer was sentenced to nine to 23 months in county prison, beginning April 8.
He will serve two years on probation on the theft by unlawful taking and criminal conspiracy charges and must perform 20 hours of community service. He must pay $2,000 restitution to a victim, plus $50 to the CJEA. He must submit a DNA sample and pay the fee of $250. The charges of burglary and receiving stolen property were dropped.
On March 13, Schuylkill County President Judge William E. Baldwin sentenced a Drums man to one to five years on a DUI charge.
Craig Michael Thomas, 31, Drums, was arrested July 16, 2017, by McAdoo police officer William Curilla and charged with two counts of DUI/general impairment, two counts of DUI/highest rate, and violation of turning movements without required signals. On the DUI/highest rate charge, Baldwin sentenced Thomas to one to five years in county prison, beginning March 13, with credit for 66 days of inpatient treatment.
He must pay a fine of $2,500. His license will be suspended for 18 months, followed by a one-year ignition interlock. He must pay $300 to the substance abuse education fund, $50 CJEA, $25 EMS, $120 to Lehigh Valley Health Network, a $50 per month supervision fee and $300 to MCARE. He must complete the alcohol highway safety school, attend outpatient substance abuse counseling for six to eight months and perform 20 hours community service. The DUI/general impairment and turning violation charges were dropped.
ARD
On March 14, Judge Baldwin admitted Mark A. Shellhammer, 34, Tuscarora, into the ARD program. Shellhammer was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police-Frackville trooper Michael Blasé July 12, 2018, and charged with receiving stolen property. Shellhammer will be on probation for 12 months. He must pay $946 restitution to a victim, plus $350 to Schuylkill County to defray the cost of ARD. He must pay $50 to the CJEA, a $50 a month supervision fee and perform 10 hours of community service.
