SUNBURY - In order to avoid a potential confrontation between defendants, Northumberland County Court officials have rescheduled the sentencing date for an informant who testified against a Coal Township couple at their January trial on drug-related charges.
Robert Santore, 49, of Ranshaw, who testified against Cornell B. Delvalle, 45, and his 35-year-old wife, Diane (Reichwein) Delvalle, will be sentenced at 9:15 a.m. April 30 by Northumberland County President Judge Robert B. Sacavage.
Santore, who is represented by Attorney Peter Campana of Williamsport, was scheduled to be sentenced by Sacavage at 1:15 p.m. Monday, with Cornell Delvalle and his wife. But Mrs. Delvalle, who has secured a new attorney, Michael Morrone of Williamsport, also has had her sentencing continued until 9:15 a.m. May 14, because of a conflict her lawyer had with Monday's date. Mrs. Delvalle was represented at trial by Northumberland County Conflicts Counselor John Broda.
Cornell Delvalle, who is represented by Attorney Michael Rudinski of Williamsport, will still be sentenced Monday. He remains in Northumberland County Prison in lieu of $100,000 cash bail. His wife is free after securing a bail bondsman to help her post $80,000 cash bail.
Santore, who agreed to cooperate with police by testifying against the Delvalles, also is free on bail.
Northumberland County Assistant District Attorney Michael Toomey is the prosecutor in the cases.
Cornell Delvalle was found guilty Jan. 20 of five counts each of possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine and delivery of crack cocaine, four counts of criminal use of a communications facility, and two counts of criminal conspiracy for allegedly delivering crack cocaine to Santore on Nov. 4, 2007, Nov. 24, 2007, Dec. 3, 2007 and Dec. 6, 2007 in the parking lot at McDonald's along Route 61, and Jan. 22, 2008, in the parking lot at Mt. Royal Mini-Mart at Ranshaw.
The defendant was found not guilty of one count of criminal use of a communication facility relating to the incident on Jan. 22, 2008.
His wife was found guilty of two counts of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy relating to the incidents on Nov. 4, 2007, and Dec. 6, 2007.
All the charges were filed by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan.
Santore previously pleaded guilty to two counts of manufacturing with intent to deliver a controlled substance filed by Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal conspiracy filed by Brennan.