Summit Hill man sentenced to special state prison program

A Summit Hill man, who previously entered guilty pleas in four pending criminal cases, was sentenced Tuesday to a special state prison program geared to address drug and alcohol addiction problems.

Vincent Valentini II, 49, was placed in the state’s Intermediate Punishment Program for two years by Judge Steven R. Serfass.

In the state IPP, a defendant serves about seven months in a state correctional institution followed by months in a special, intensive drug and alcohol rehabilitation program in the state system followed by a period of time in a halfway house. If a person fails to complete the program successfully, they are brought back to the sentencing judge and resentenced.

Valentini pleaded to one count each of fleeing or attempting to elude police, a felony, and recklessly endangering another person for an incident on Oct. 20, 2018, in Lehighton. Police on patrol observed a vehicle blocking part of West Alley. As they approached the vehicle the driver fled, leading them on a chase through several streets of the borough before the driver stopped. The driver was identified as Valentini.

On April 25 he pleaded to two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude police and one count of criminal conspiracy — theft.

According to police on Aug. 11, 2018, at 9:08 p.m., Summit Hill police saw a blue Subaru southbound on North Chestnut Street traveling at a high rate of speed and almost striking the police cruiser head-on. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and pursued the vehicle along Richards Avenue and Chestnut Street, failing to stop at posted stop signs. The pursuit continued on East Richards Avenue when the driver turned off the headlights on his vehicle in an attempt to avoid detection.

The pursuit continued on with more stop signs being ignored and eventually turning onto Route 902. The vehicle continued on 902 into Mahoning Township when the driver then began to pass vehicles on the left side in a no-passing zone.

The driver continued along Fritz Valley Road in a construction area and then turned around and almost hit the police cruiser head-on and caused the officer to drive off the road to avoid a collision.

Other police departments joined in the pursuit, but the driver was able to avoid arrest. Police later located the Subaru along Furnace Road in Washington Township. The vehicle had moderate damage to the front end. No one was in the vehicle.

Through the course of the investigation, Valentini developed as a suspect. A check revealed his license had been suspended. On Nov. 1, Valentini was interviewed at the county prison in Nesquehoning. He provided a written statement admitting he was the driver involved in the pursuit and said he fled because he was scared and had methamphetamine in the vehicle.

The second incident occurred on Oct. 11, 2018. Police said in the area of Oak and Holland streets, officers saw a white Honda Accord fail to stop for a posted stop sign. The vehicle then stopped in the middle of the intersection. As officers approached the stopped vehicle, the driver, who officers identified as Valentini, backed up, then pulled around the police cruiser and fled, failing to stop for another stop sign.

Police pursued the fleeing vehicle with lights and siren activated. The fleeing vehicle almost struck another vehicle as it fled. The driver of the vehicle that was almost struck told officers the Honda was near the Miners Market on Amidon Street. Police located the vehicle, which was unoccupied.

While at the scene, the defendant was observed coming around a building at the site. He was ordered to get to the ground, but refused. He ignored repeated commands to surrender, but did not and fled on foot. Other police departments responded to assist but the defendant was not found.

It was determined that Valentini was under suspension and has no valid driver’s license. Also, the registration plate on the vehicle was not for that vehicle and he had no insurance.

The vehicle stop occurred on Oct. 6, 2018, also in Summit Hill, where Valentini was charged with having taken a 1996 Ford F250 truck of a borough resident.

The sentencing proceeding was done via video conference. Valentini is an inmate in the state prison at Camp Hill, Cumberland County, where he was evaluated for the program and approve.

Valentini told Serfass, “I want to apologize for my reckless behavior. I thank the district attorney and the court for allowing me to enter this program.” He added that he feels the program will address his addiction problem in a very positive way.

Serfass also ordered Valentini to pay court costs of about $1,000, make restitution for damages in one case of $1,250, his half share, and supply a DNA sample. He was given total credit of 225 days already served.