Split verdict in gun-pointing case

After deliberating for just over four hours on Friday afternoon a Carbon County jury panel returned a split verdict in the trial of Lehigh County man charged with pointing a gun at a security guard at a county resort.

The panel found Scott Timothy Watkins, 52, of New Tripoli, guilty of simple assault and not guilty of recklessly endangering another person. Both counts are misdemeanors.

Watkins was charged by state police at Lehighton for an incident on May 14, 2016, at the Sunny Rest resort in Lower Towamensing Township.

Troopers accused him of pointing a 40-caliber handgun at security guard Christopher Wean, of Palmerton, at his trailer site in the clothing optional resort.

Watkins denied the accusations claiming self-defense in that he was afraid of Wean, claiming he knew that Wean had a conviction for simple assault and recklessly endangering in the past.

During the trial Wean testified that he and another guard, Jason Cerkan, drove Watkins’ wife, Lisa, to their trailer from a deck party a short distance away. They entered the trailer for a short period of time before exiting again.

While standing outside, Wean said Watkins arrived in his vehicle and slammed on the brakes, exited it, and quickly went into the trailer. Wean said he heard yelling going on inside the trailer but could not make out what was being said. He said he was standing near a window and saw Watkins strike his wife three times in the face.

He said he told Cerkan what he saw. Cerkan knocked on the door and Watkins appeared. Cerkan testified that he observed Watkins reaching behind his back and thought he was reaching for a gun. Cerkan said he ran to a golf cart the two were using to get around the resort.

Wean stayed near the door and said the next thing he knew, Watkins was holding the barrel of the gun against his left cheek. After a few moments he said Watkins dropped the gun to his side. Wean said he went to the golf cart, turned it around and headed for the office area.

Watkins told a different story as to what happened. He said when he entered the trailer he found his wife in an intoxicated condition, which she was not when she left the party for the trailer.

He also said he thought she might have been drugged, claiming as he walked by Wean before entering the trailer he smelled marijuana.

Watkins said after seeing his wife, he opened the trailer door and yelled out to Wean and Cerkan to leave. He said he repeated the order several times. He said he saw Wean walking toward him at the trailer door and that was when he pulled out his gun. He said he again told Wean to leave. He said Wean took two more steps toward him and then turned around and left.

Watkins said the gun’s safety was on at the time. He said after he felt that both men had left, he called police to report the incident.

He said he never struck his wife that night and never put the gun against Wean’s cheek.

Testimony from other commonwealth witnesses, including investigating state trooper Michael Sofranko, and another trooper, both stating they believed Watkins was intoxicated.

Wean and Cerkan also said Watkins and his wife were both intoxicated.

Watkins told the jury he had only one mixed drink all evening.

After the verdict was read, President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II found Watkins guilty of a summary count of harassment.

Nanovic deferred sentencing. Watkins has been free on bail since the incident.

Watkins was represented by attorney Brian Collins of Allentown. Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Ann Dydra Hatton was the prosecutor.